"Making the Roero famous"
Malvirà
was
established
in
the
1950s
by
Giuseppe
Damonte,
at
a
time
when
the
Roero's
potential
was
yet
unrealized.
Giuseppe
had
a
great
passion
for
farming
and
wine,
a
passion
that
he
passed
on
to
his
two
sons,
Roberto
and
Massimo.
In
1974,
Roberto
and
Massimo
took
the
reigns
and
began
slowly
turning
the
family's
bulk
wine
business
into
an
Estate
focusing
on
quality
wine
production.
Over
the
course
of
the
next
30+
years,
the
brothers
Damonte
worked
tirelessly
to
improve
the
quality
of
wines
at
Malvirà.
They
recognized
that
great
wines
come
from
meticulously
farmed
Estate
vineyards.
Today,
Malvirà's
wines
are
produced
from
Estate
fruit,
organically
farmed
across
104
acres
and
6
vineyards.
Over
the
years,
they
have
been
one
of
the
most
ardent
proponents
of
the
Arneis
grape.
42
of
their
104
acres
are
devoted
to
the
propagation
of
Arneis.
It
is
the
wine
for
which
Malvirà
is
renowned.
In
2007,
the
Damontes
purchased
the
Renesio
vineyard,
which
they
leased
since
1983.
Renesio
is
the
cru
from
which
the
Arneis
grape
was
identified
in
1478.
In
fact,
it
is
unknown
which
came
first,
the
name
of
the
vineyard,
or
the
name
of
the
grape!
GRAPES
Arneis
is
an
ancient,
fragrant
and
vibrant
white-grape
variety
known
the
world
over
as
the
"little
rascal."
This
endearing
phrase
is
a
direct
translation
of
Arneis
in
the
Piemontese
dialectic.
Plantings
of
Arneis
were
in
severe
decline
in
the
20th
century.
As
recently
as
20
years
ago,
there
were
fewer
than
60
acres
under
plantation.
Today,
the
grape
has
made
a
strong
recovery
and
is
the
most
widely
planted
white
grape
of
Piedmont.
This
is
in
part
to
the
efforts
of
passionate
producers
of
Arneis,
like
Malvirà.
Without
careful
farming,
Arneis
can
result
in
a
neutral
and
bland
wine.
According
to
Massimo
Damonte,
who
oversees
viticulture
at
his
Estate,
the
secret
to
great
Arneis
lies
in
old
vines.
Malvirà's
average
vine
age
for
Arneis
is
40‐50
years
old.
Vine
age
naturally
helps
to
inhibit
yields,
allowing
the
plant
to
channel
more
of
its
energy
in
producing
lesser
quantities
of
higher
quality
fruit.
The
dimensions
of
flavors
vary
based
on
the
type
of
soil
and
the
mesoclimate
of
the
vineyard.
On
stony,
calcareous
soils,
Arneis
tends
toward
citrus
and
apple
with
a
Chablis‐like
minerality.
From
more
sedimentary
clay
soils,
Arneis
often
exhibits
rounder
fruit
flavors
with
tropical
undertones.
In
addition
to
Arneis,
Malvirà
produces
Favorita,
Nebbiolo,
Barbera,
and
Birbet.
VINEYARDS
Malvirà's
Estate
spans
104
acres
and
6
primary
vineyards
including
Trinità,
Renesio,
Saglietto,
San
Michele,
San
Guglielmo,
and
Mombeltramo.
All
vineyards
are
farmed
organically.
The
Roero
was
at
one
time
completely
immersed
by
the
sea.
Its
many
soil
types
are
distinguished
by
this
geological
history.
Generally
speaking
there
is
more
oceanic
sedimentary
and
sandy
soil
found
in
the
Roero,
as
compared
to
the
neighboring
parts
of
the
Langhe
(Barolo
and
Barbaresco).
It
is
not
uncommon
to
find
fossilized
shells
in
vineyards.
The
Trinità
vineyard
is
sedimentary
in
nature
with
a
high
portion
of
sand.
The
upper
part
of
the
south‐facing
slope
is
planted
to
Nebbiolo,
where
the
grape
can
ripen
to
its
fullest
potential.
The
lower
part
of
the
hill
is
planted
to
Arneis.
The
Renesio
vineyard
is
rich
in
calcareous
marl
and
planted
with
Arneis
and
Nebbiolo.
Saglieto
is
contiguous
to
Renesio
and
shares
similar
soils,
though
with
a
bit
more
clay
resulting
in
a
denser
wine.
It
is
planted
exclusively
to
white
grapes,
including
Arneis
and
Favorita.
San
Michele
has
calcareous
clay
soils
and
is
planted
to
Barbera.
San
Guglielmo,
the
family's
most
historic
vineyard,
borders
Trinità
and
shares
its
sedimentary
sandy
soils
and
affinity
for
red
grapes,
including
Nebbiolo
and
Barbera.
download shelf talkers
www.malvira.com
List of wines
This
Arneis
comes
from
four
vineyards:
Trinità,
Renesio,
and
Saglietto.
It
is
fermented
in
stainless
steel,
where
it
rests
on
the
lees
for
five
months.
It
is
a
fresh
wine
with
green
apple,
grapefruit
pith,
lemon,
white
flowers,
and
mineral.
Trinità
is
the
vineyard
that
surrounds
the
winery
and
the
historic
Villa
Tiboldi
Agriturismo.
With
sedimentary
soils
of
calcareous
clay
and
sand,
the
wines
is
steely
and
pure.
It
is
fermented
in
stainless
steel,
after
which
10%
of
the
wine
is
transferred
to
neutral
French
oak
for
6
months.
Trinità
is
a
complex
wine
with
white
peach,
linden,
honey,
and
flinty
minerality.
Favorita
is
the
local
name
for
Vermentino,
named
such
as
it
was
the
favored
grape
of
Piemontese
Royalty.
Malvirà's
Favorita
comes
from
the
Trinità,
Saglietto,
and
Bossola
vineyards.
The
wine
has
lovely
weight
and
mouthfeel,
with
aromas
and
flavors
of
Bosc
pear,
yellow
peach,
and
pineapple
with
blossom
and
a
lengthy,
textured
finish.
Malvirà's
Roero
Rosso
is
100%
Nebbiolo
from
the
Trinità
and
Mombeltramo
vineyards.
It
is
vinified
in
stainless
steel
and
aged
in
French
oak
for
18-‐24
months
before
bottling.
The
wine
has
aromas
of
dark
red
fruits,
roses,
dried
tobacco,
and
spice.
On
the
palate,
the
wine
has
black
cherry,
and
plum
with
red
licorice,
violets,
dried
tobacco
and
baking
spices.
The
tannins
are
sweet
and
integrated.
Birbet
is
the
local,
Piemontese
dialect
name
for
the
Brachetto
Lungo
grape.
Malvirà's
Birbet
is
small
production
and
limited
in
availability.
The
wine
is
made
in
the
Charmat,
or
tank
method,
resulting
in
a
lightly
sparkling,
subtly
sweet
wine
below
7%
abv.
Birbet
is
deliciously
charming
with
a
nose
of
wild
strawberry,
raspberry,
peach,
and
hibiscus
tea
that
carry
through
onto
the
palate.
