Arneis is a white Italian wine grape varietal originating from Piemonte Italy.
It is most commonly found in the hills of the Roero northwest of Alba, where it is part of the white Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wines of Roero. It can also be used to produce DOC wines in Langhe. Arneis (literally: little rascal, in Piemontese Dialect) is so called because it is regarded as a somewhat difficult variety to grow. It is a crisp and floral varietal, and has been grown for centuries in the region. The white wines made from the Arneis grape tend to be dry, full body with notes of pears and apricots and hints of almond or hazelnut.

In a story shared by several renascent grape varieties, Arneis has been rescued from the verge of extinction and is now enjoying something of a revival. By the 1960s, just a few hectares of Arneis vines remained, and only a handful of producers were making the wine. There are now more than 1500 acres of Arneis vines in Piedmont.

Arneis Grapes
In the past couple of decades, Arneis has become synonymous with the wines of Roero. The Arneis variety's survival is due in part to the efforts of one winemaker, the late Alfredo Currado, a member of the well-regarded Vietti wine family. From 1967 onwards, Currado devoted a great deal of time and effort to this then-endangered variety. In the winery, Arneis was added in small quantities to Nebbiolo or Barbera wines in order to soften their robust Tannins. Outside Roero, Arneis wines are made in the Langhe hills immediately to the south and in the Terre Alfieri to the northeast (near Asti).