Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety, thought to be a mutant clone of the pinot noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. Pinot Gris is grown around the globe with the “spicy” full-bodied Alsatian and lighter-bodied, more acidic Italian styles being most widely recognized. The Alsatian style, often duplicated in New World wine regions such as Marlborough, Tasmania, South Australia, Washington, and Oregon, tend to have moderate to low acidity, higher alcohol levels and an almost “oily” texture that contributes to the full-bodied nature of the wine. The flavors can range from ripe tropical fruit notes of melon and mango to some botrytis-influenced flavors. In Italy, Pinot Grigio grapes are often harvested early to retain the refreshing acidity and minimize some of the overt-fruitiness of the variety, creating a more neutral flavor profile. This style is often imitated in other Old World wine regions, such as Germany where the grape is known as Ruländer.
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The name Alto Vento, which means ‘High Wind’ in Italian, refers to the high altitude vineyards where the grapes come from. Made with 100% Pinot Grigio, this wine has been crafted exclusively from grapes grown in vineyards within the delle Venezie DOC region, which is also known as the ideal region for Pinot Grigio. It has been produced by one of Mionetto’s long time grower partners; a traditional family owned producer of the past 400 years, so getting a wine of this character and authenticity at the price on offer, is an outstanding value. It is crafted and artisanal in nature, a high quality “boutique” Pinot Grigio has unique character and finesse.