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Friuli-Venezia Giulia's Grapes: Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Gris is a French grape known by a collection of names around the world Pinot Gris in France Pinot Grigio in Italy Rulander in Germany Szurkebarat in Hungary This pink skinned variety is related to the Red Pinot Noir grape, which has a reputation of mutating from time to time. Pinto Gris is one such spontaneous change. The grape itself can make deep coloured full bodied, soft gently aromatic wines with lots of extract giving a fleshy rich mouth feel, and soft aromatic wines.
PDO's & PGI's
- DOC Colli Orientali
- DOC Collio
- DOC Friuli Grave
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Key Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, or Friuli, is the most northeastern region of Italy, bordering Austria to the north and Slovenia to the east. The region came into its own commercially wine-wise in the late 1960s when the introduction of German winemaking philosophy along with temperature control produced the country’s first truly clean, fresh and fruity white wines. The sub-region Grave stretches across much of the Friuli's southern half and is an uplifted fast-draining plain that’s rich in gravel. Its wines are most representative of the region. Varieties include global giants, such as Merlot and Chardonnay, Italian internationals, such as Pinot Grigio, as well as local varieties, such as the red Schiopettino and Refosco dal Pedunculo Rosso. The most important local white wine is what used to be called Tocai Friulano but is now simply Friulano, much to the Italians’ dismay, after an EU agreement gave Hungary exclusive rights to the Tokaji name.