Winemaker Notes
The bouquet is intense and complex, with hints of fruits (peach, melon and berries). On the palate it is round, with a pleasant acidity, soft tannins and a finish rich in mineral sensations. With origins in Italy’s northeastern province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Ramato (Italian for “auburn” or “copper”) wines are produced by macerating Pinot Grigio grape must with its skins. The skins’ pink hue gives the wines color from a semi-pale pink to dark orange, depending on maceration time.
Want to taste Sun Goddess wine with Mary J. Blige?
Open a bottle and enjoy a virtual tasting of the Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato and Sun Goddess Sauvignon Blanc along with creators Mary J. Blige, Marco Fantinel, and Wine.com’s own Gwendolyn Osborn.
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Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Sun Goddess wines are produced with love and passion from sun-kissed vineyards owned by the Fantinel family in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
INSPIRATION
“I have always been particularly fond of white wines that demonstrate freshness, minerality, and purity. Pinot Grigio is undoubtedly among my favorite varieties. One day, I asked my friend Lorenzo Randisi what is the best Pinot Grigio in the world and he quickly responded that the best Pinot Grigio came from Friuli Venezia Giulia. In deepening my knowledge of this little Italian region I was introduced to Marco Fantinel, owner of one of the leading wineries of this area. Pictures alone helped me fall in love with the Fantinel estate so I decided to go visit it personally. After walking though the vineyards and tasting with the Fantinel family, I felt extremely connected to the place, and more importantly, the people. The experience inspired me to create my own wines in partnership with Marco Fantinel.” —Mary J. Blige
THE NAME
“The name is very personal for me, as it’s a name I was given as a child by my mother. The name Sun Goddess evokes powerful childhood memories that I carry with me today. I’ve always loved the sun, and as a child I always tried to capture the sun’s warmth and energy. It was magical to me, and it’s with that spirit, that my mom began calling me “Sun Goddess”. “Sun Goddess” immediately struck me as the perfect name as it connects my real life, conveys the connection between nature, and the personality of wines I enjoy the most, combined with my style and that of Fantinel.” —Mary J. Blige
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
