Arneis Pradalupo
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed fresh, within 1 to 3 years of the vintage release, to fully appreciate its vibrant acidity and delicate floral aromatics.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh seafood starters, delicate pasta dishes with basil pesto, and soft goat cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic estate of Fontanafredda, founded in 1858 by the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, the 'Pradalupo' is a vibrant expression of the native Arneis grape. Translated as 'wolf's meadow,' Pradalupo pays homage to the wild, sandy hillsides of Piedmont. Once nearly extinct and historically nicknamed 'Barolo Bianco' because it was co-planted with Nebbiolo to distract hungry birds, Arneis has found its modern renaissance here. Fontanafredda crafts this white wine entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel, preserving the grape's delicate, fresh character. The resulting wine is celebrated for its straw-yellow hue, intense aromas of pear, acacia flowers, and hazelnut, backed by a signature mineral backbone derived from the region's marine-origin soils.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1858 by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King of unified Italy, as an estate for his mistress Rosa Vercellana, Fontanafredda evolved into a foundational pillar of Piedmontese viticulture under their son, Count Emanuele Alberto di Mirafiore. The historic estate encompasses 120 hectares of certified organic vineyards centered in Serralunga d'Alba, an area distinguished by compact Helvetian limestone-marl soils and elevated south- and southwest-facing slopes between 200 and 400 meters. Acquired in 2008 by Oscar Farinetti and Luca Baffigo, the property underwent a viticultural renaissance, securing full organic certification with the 2018 harvest. In the nineteenth-century cellars, winemaking merges technical precision with classical Piedmontese restraint, relying on long macerations, stainless steel vinification for fragrant whites, and maturation in neutral Slavonian oak botti for its noble reds. Iconic bottlings include the cru Barolo Vigna La Rosa, Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba, Roero Arneis Pradalupo, and the pioneering Alta Langa Metodo Classico sparkling wines.