Pinot Grigio, a native of the Burgundy region but cultivated all over the world, is a grey-pink-violet grape variety that produces expressive whites with good alcohol content. Introduced in Italy to relaunch white wine production, over time it has become an important protagonist of the country's wine scene, especially in the Friuli, Veneto and South Tyrol regions, where it produces some of its best expressions. The Grand Cru wines of Alsace are famous and are prestigious labels that stand at the forefront of the typology, together with the wines from the Mosel Valley in Germany. These are white wines with a golden colour and pink highlights, an intense bouquet and a full, mellow flavour with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Characteristics that have made this wine popular all over the world and made it the ideal choice for unforgettable gastronomic experiences with fish, vegetables, cheese and foie gras.
Pinot Grigio, a native of the Burgundy region but cultivated all over the world, is a grey-pink-violet grape variety that produces expressive whites with good alcohol content. Introduced in Italy to relaunch white wine production, over time it has become an important protagonist of the country's wine scene, especially in the Friuli, Veneto and South Tyrol regions, where it produces some of its best expressions. The Grand Cru wines of Alsace are famous and are prestigious labels that stand at the forefront of the typology, together with the wines from the Mosel Valley in Germany. These are white wines with a golden colour and pink highlights, an intense bouquet and a full, mellow flavour with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Characteristics that have made this wine popular all over the world and made it the ideal choice for unforgettable gastronomic experiences with fish, vegetables, cheese and foie gras.
The history of this vine, which is one of the most widely planted varieties in the world, seems to have its origins in a spontaneous genetic modification of its ancestor, the Black variety. The characteristics of Pinot Grigio are its traditional pinkish-grey, almost coppery appearance and the fact that the grape cluster is never found in abundance on the plant. Only a few small fruits are produced. The berry favours only specific environments in order to ripen fully, concentrating its true flavour to perfection. This makes it ideal for cold environments.
This variety produces one of the most expressive white wines in the world, and one of the best areas for its production is the region of Alsace. Legend has it that around 1565, Baron Lazare de Schwendi, servant of the noble house of Austria, brought home vines from the city of Tokaj in Hungary after the war with the Turks. This precious product was already known at that time and coveted by almost every wine connoisseur. In fact, various ampelographers claim that the vine imported by the Baron was not the same as the Hungarian variety. The Grauer Tokayer, the name by which this variety was once identified, would therefore most probably be a vine originating in Burgundy and not from the land of the Hungarians, as was once thought.
In Italy, it has found its ideal habitat in the northern regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto and South Tyrol. Pinot Grigio Friuli is often vinified following the most ancient traditions by brilliant producers, who use the technique of maceration on the skins and exalt the minerality and freshness that, particularly in the Collio area, distinguish these interpretations, thereby elevating them to important levels.
The chromatic and structural characteristics typical of these grapes can also be recognised in the wines obtained from their fermentation. In the cellar, there are two routes followed by the winemakers: either the must is left to ferment in contact with the skins, obtaining a more structured result with a complex aromatic profile, or, as is more often the case, the grapes are vinified without maceration, or at most through a brief cryo-maceration, in steel tanks. Rarely does the wine undergo further ageing in wooden containers. A great example of the second type of production is the Pinot Grigio Bressan, an artisan in the sector who produces iconic auburn wines with an almost ancestral feel and a unique personality, just like its winemaker.
The same techniques are also widespread in Alsace and Germany, which are the birthplace of notable examples of the category. In Germany, the vine is known as Rülander and is included, as it is in France, among the vines allowed to be classified as Grand Cru if vinified alone. In the same areas, there are also late harvest versions or versions obtained from botrytis cinerea, which is a noble rot that only develops in certain areas. A notable feature of the wines from Alsace is their more opulent and rounded personality, which is achieved thanks to the residual sugar not being fully developed, resulting in very enjoyable and fascinating interpretations.
At an early age, Pinot Grigio DOC has a colour that varies from greenish yellow to a more developed golden yellow, reaching a vivid, baroque bronze colour with a concentrated appearance as it matures. Whispers of underbrush may emerge on the nose here and there, accompanied by hints of musk, dried fruit and apricot. It also acquires smoky characteristics depending on the type of vinification chosen. There are also pleasant hints of honey and beeswax, on a background of flowers and balsamic tones. The taste is graceful in its youth, with a slightly bitter finish that is never predictable. Mineral pedigree and very fresh texture envelop the palate with great personality. The acidic component maintains an enviable balance as it ages, making it well suited to longevity. It is extremely complex during tasting if enjoyed a few years later. The aroma is distinctive, with notes that are edgy but never out of place, and a pleasant spicy touch that gives an extra kick to the tasting experience.
The ideal pairing for Pinot Grigio is with intensely flavoured dishes based on game and marinated meat. In transalpine regions, it is typical to drink it instead of red wines. This custom can be fully appreciated, since the local interpretations, which are usually complex and structured, perfectly accompany autumn dishes, enhancing the combinations. The seafood world is also an area in which this wine will deliver great organoleptic emotions, thanks to its natural structure and the softness revealed in the mouth. It is particularly sensational when paired with creamed risotto.
If you are looking for Pinot Grigio wine, you can buy it online on the Callmewine website at a particularly competitive price. Here you will discover an important selection of the most significant representations of this grape variety and its qualities. Its enjoyable taste and structure make this wine a unique experience that will provide great sensations for every occasion.