Pinot Grigio

Even though the grape variety Pinot Grigio is considered typically Italian, it actually comes from the French Burgundy, where it is called Pinot Gris. "Gris" or "grigio" means grey and comes from the fact that the ripe grapes do not take on a yellow-green colour, but a grey-blue to red-brown colour. Visually, Pinot Grigio, which is known in Germany as Grauburgunder, thus resembles a red grape variety, which is due to its close relationship with Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir, Spätburgunder). Thus, it is up to each winemaker to ferment the grapes into light, clear white wines or into copper-coloured rosés (Ramato).

The list of Italian wine regions where the high-yield Pinot Grigio is cultivated stretches from Lombardy to Sicily. Almost half of the total 17,300 hectares of vineyards are distributed among the three northern Italian regions of Veneto, Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige. The lion's share is in Veneto, where the grape variety can be found in the extensive cultivation areas near the picturesque Lake Garda. Here, the grapes are fermented into an enticingly palatable, delicately fruity aperitif version with low acidity and low alcohol content.

But Pinot Grigio has a lot more to offer, which should arouse the curiosity of one or two wine lovers. It unfolds its aromatic potential in Trentino-South Tyrol, where stony vineyards lie directly on the foothills of the Dolomites and have to be laboriously worked by hand. Besides mineral notes and fruity aromas of pears, apples and white peaches, the exciting mountain wines inspire with a lively, crisp acidity.

On the border with Slovenia, the Friulians produce their rich and luscious Pinot Grigio wines from the best hillside sites in the appellations. The classics come from the hilliest vineyards (Collio) and mature for quite some time in large wooden or cement barrels. Here, at the latest, the spicy character, the aroma of sweet, ripe fruit and the incredible storage potential of the grape variety come to the fore. In this case, you can definitely impress your guests with an older Pinot Grigio, because the longer it can develop in the bottle, the more ethereal and creamy it tastes, without losing any of its freshness and vitality.

In the meantime, one increasingly comes across artisan Pinot Grigio, which convey a sense of the place of origin and the care taken by the winemaker. Thanks to its intense fullness of flavour, the grape variety is predominantly bottled as a single varietal instead of only being used for blending other wines. From the sparkling wine for every day, to wines with a noticeable texture and more intense tertiary aromas, there is certainly something for every wine lover, especially as the young, juicy Pinot Grigio is ideal for risotto creations, while the richer variety may be served quietly with hearty meat and fish dishes.

Because we are always looking for first-class products, there is no trace of uninteresting mass-produced wines in our range. If you want to be inspired by this grape variety, you should take a look at the wines from Veneto, Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige as well as the examples from Lombardy, Valle d'Aosta and Abruzzo, which have taken our palate by storm. SUPERIORE.DE