I have some pretty terrible associations with Pinot Grigio: bad gallery openings, architecture school, and horrible first dates (read, being in my early 20's and not knowing what to order). No Longer, dear readers, no longer!
I'm pleased to report that I have found an amazing wine making region that produces the most delicious Pinot Grigio, the Alto-Adige region in Northern Italy. The vineyards are located in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains, meaning, warm days and cool nights that yield wines that have higher acidity, are more herbaceous, and have a bright and fruity tartness to them.
While some people prefer to learn about wine through the grape varietal, I so much more prefer to do deep dives into wine making regions. When I have learned about a new wine that I like, I will read up on it on websites such as Wine Folly, learning as much as I can about the soil type and the wine making styles that are common to the area. This helps me understand why I like a particular wine, and this knowledge very often inspires me to try similar wines, and embrace new favorites into my wine repertoire.
I have tasted quite a few of the Pinot Grigios from the Alto Adige region, and my hands down favorite is the Tramin Pinot Grigio Unterebner 2015 by Cantina Tramin, a gorgeous white wine that has aromas of honeyed apricots, melon, and toasty oak, and flavors of dried pear, apricot, white flowers, honey with bright vegetal notes and an dry, oaky finish. This "richly styled" Pinot Grigio is silky and viscous, and it is dry but full bodied.
I love drinking this wine before dinner, served with freshly cut vegetables, but it would also pair beautifully with a roast chicken and a seasonal salad. I love the idea of drinking this wine in the summer, but it has a lot of flavor and complexity making it delightful year round. I love finding wines that are surprising and so easy to fall in love with, and this is a wine that I'm excited to share with my friends!
I never thought I would say this, but I really like Pinot Grigio! Seems as though I just had to find the right one! Now, to drink my way through the region....
Tramin Pinot Grigio Unterebner 2015 - $27
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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Alto Adige Wines. All opinions are 100% mine.
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