03 Jul Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Arnot-Roberts Ribolla Gialla, Vare Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017

A bright white wine with citrus, peach and apple notes and firm acidity, Ribolla Gialla is a white wine grape variety found in the northeastern Italian province of Fruili, as well as in neighboring Slovenia. A small amount can also be found in Napa Valley in the Vare Vineyard. This is where Arnot-Roberts gets the Ribolla Gialla for the Arnot-Roberts Ribolla Gialla, Vare Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017, the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

Arnot-Roberts was founded in 2001 by two childhood friends. This is the same year George Vare planted the Ribiolla Gialla in Napa. A fan of the Friuli region, Vare smuggled some cuttings of Ribolla Gialla from the vines of iconic winemaker Josko Gravner. He planted them in his vineyard in Oak Knoll in Napa Valley.

The Arnot-Roberts Ribolla Gialla, Vare Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017 is a cloudy pale yellow color. It has an elegant nose of pear, green apple, white flowers, spices and minerality. On the palate, the wine has a great mouthfeel with racy acidity and a saline finish.

The Arnot-Roberts Ribolla Gialla, Vare Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017 is available at specialty wine retailers around the country for approximately $50 per bottle. This is a delicious and special wine that will wow any crowd. I shared my bottle with a group of wine judges after judging 200 wines and everyone agreed it was exceptional.