Gaierhof Pinot Grigio 2019
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The color is straw yellow. The bouquet on the nose is very elegant with the typical varietal scent of Williams pear. Dry, harmonious and fine taste with a good balance and a lingering fruity finish.
An excellent aperitif, this wine also pairs well with typical Mediterranean dishes and grilled fish such as trout.
Other Vintages
2020- Vinous
The Togn family’s winemaking tradition began with Germano Togn in the 1940s. It was at Germano’s Vinicola Valdadige that Luigi Togn began his viticultural journey in the 1960s, learning about wines through the unique lense of Trentino wines under the wing of his father. In 1975, Luigi would take this deep understanding of the region’s wine and history and apply it his first venture, Gaierhof, a vinifier and bottler of regional wines in Roverè di Luna outside of Trento.
A symbol of the heavy Austrian influence on winemaking in the region, the Lechthaler name had been making local varietal wines since 1905. One of the first producers in the area to sell its wines in bottles instead of 20-30 liter barrels, Lechthaler’s innovative production philosophy was a draw for the Togn family. The two families enjoyed a great synergy, working together for years before the Togn family acquired the brand from the Lechthaler family in the mid-1980s. To this day, Lechthaler is a highly representative line that produces historically cultivated varietals such as Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Teroldego at a high-quality level.
After over three decades of dedicated service, Luigi Togn continues to lead his brands today, assisted by his daughters: Romina, who is responsible for marketing; Valentina, who deals with production and Martina, who handles the administration. Goffredo Pasolli, his son-in-law, has also joined the family business as head enological technician.
Showing a unique rosy, purplish hue upon full ripeness, this “white” variety is actually born out of a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape boasts two versions of its name, as well as two generally distinct styles. In Italy, Pinot Grigio achieves most success in the mountainous regions of Trentino and Alto Adige as well as in the neighboring Friuli—all in Italy’s northeast. France's Alsace and Oregon's Willamette Valley produce some of the world's most well-regarded Pinot Gris wine. California produces both styles with success.
Where Does Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio Come From?
Pinot Gris is originally from France, and it is technically not a variety but a clone of Pinot Noir. In Italy it’s called Pinot Grigio (Italian for gray), and it is widely planted in northern and NE Italy. Pinot Gris is also grown around the globe, most notably in Oregon, California, and New Zealand. No matter where it’s made or what it’s called, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio produces many exciting styles.
Tasting Notes for Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a dry, white wine naturally low in acidity. Pinot Grigio wines showcase signature flavors and aromas of stone fruit, citrus, honeysuckle, pear and almond. Alsatian styles are refreshing, expressive, aromatic (think rose and honey), smooth, full-bodied and richly textured and sometimes relatively higher in alcohol compared to their Italian counterpart. As Pinot Grigio in Italy, the style is often light and charming. The focus here is usually to produce a crisp, refreshing, lighter style of wine. While there are regional differences of Pinot Grigio, the typical profile includes lemon, lime and subtle minerality.
Pinot Grigio Food Pairings
The viscosity of a typical Alsatian Pinot Gris allows it to fit in harmoniously with the region's rich foods like pork, charcuterie and foie gras. Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, with its citrusy freshness, works well as an aperitif wine or with seafood and subtle chicken dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Given the pinkish color of its berries and aromatic potential if cared for to fully ripen, the Pinot Grigio variety is actually one that is commonly used to make "orange wines." An orange wine is a white wine made in the red wine method, i.e. with fermentation on its skins. This process leads to a wine with more ephemeral aromas, complexity on the palate and a pleasant, light orange hue.
The southern part of Italy’s northeastern Alpine region, Trentino, produces quality wines from international varieties. But its most exceptional native variety, Teroldego, with plantings concentrated around the sandy, gravelly, limestone soils of its Campo Rotaliano district, makes a deep purple-hued red wine with scents and flavors of wild blackberry, herbs, espresso and cocoa.