Winemaker Notes
In addition to a balanced color, this wine possesses a very rich bouquet, giving the clear impression of a wine of conspicuous harmony. This is a wine that after many years of cellaring becomes even more enjoyable. Straw yellow to golden yellow. Inspiring fruity, a powerful bouquet of ripe fruits, a wide array of aromas (pear, tropical fruits, and fine wood flavor). Powerful, balanced, and savory, an interesting play of acidity in the mouth, very harmoniously juicy and rich with pleasant fullness.
Pair with appetizers, fish and vegetable-based main courses, and white meats.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
An exceptionally well structured, creamy and silky pinot grigio that carries its considerable power easily. Ripe melon with a hint of papaya on the nose, but that doesn’t make this the least bit opulent.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This one's all peaches and cream, as they say in the South. The 2018 Alto Adige Pinot Grigio Riserva Giatl brings big soft intensity and lots of plush fruit. Peach, poached pear and passion fruit explode from the bouquet in an expression that affords lots of nice richness. The oak fermentation at nearly room temperature results here in a soft and integrated white to enjoy with a shrimp étouffée.
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.
To learn more, see our Essential Pinot Grigio Guide.
Wine by Region › Italy › Trentino-Alto Adige › Alto Adige
Taking full advantage of direct sunlight exposure on its steep slopes, many of Alto Adige’s best vineyards are planted at extreme altitude... read more