Tasting the Pinot Grigio of Delle Venezia was revelatory experience for me. I was very impressed with the wines and the value they offer.

I recently attended a webinar hosted by Susannah Gold, DipWSET, IWS, FWS of Vigneto Communications featuring Pinot Grigio specialist Albino Armani.

The webinar covered the different terroirs for Pinot Grigio in the Triveneto area (Veneto, Friuli and Trentino) where Albino Armani’s family has been growing grapes since 1607. The family owns five wineries in these regions. Albino is also the President of the Pinot Grigio delle Venezie consortium and an expert on the grape variety. 

About Pinot Grigio in Italy

While Pinot Grigio is widely considered to the quintessential Italian grape variety (it is the most exported variety wine), its origins can be traced to France, where it is known as Pinot Gris – Grigio and Gris mean the same thing – Gray which is a reference to the color of the berries which can be a range of colors including grey, rose, or copperish.

According to Wine Grapes, the grape was introduced to Italy in the early 19^th century in the north of the country, specifically the Piedmont.

Today, there are about 148,000 acres grown around the world, with Italy leading the way with about 60,500 acres. Italy accounts for 37% of global Pinot Grigio production; and the 85% of Italy’s production of Pinot Grigio comes from the “Triveneto” region of Veneto, Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige. The region was elevated from IGT to DOC status in 2017, and today is known as the Delle Venezia DOC.

Delle Venezia DOC

The Delle Venezia DOC is located at the base of the Dolomite Alps. It’s a cool climate region, that is heavily influenced by winds. Its cool, breezy climate is distinguished with very warm days and chilly nights that help maintain a balance in the grape between acidity and sugar levels and allows the grapes a long, slow growing season. In other words ideal condition for growing the region’s predominant grape – Pinot Grigio.

It’s a large region. In fact, it is Europe’s largest appellation. That scale offers a wider variety of terroirs for it’s grapes

Roughly seven bottles in every ten of delle Venezie wine are varietal Pinot Grigio. There are 20 smaller DOCs nested within the delle Venezie. A Pinot Grigio delle Venezie may actually include up to 15 percent of other permitted white varieties

The elevation from IGT to DOC involves cutting yields, focusing on quality and establishing a tasting panel to ensure quality.

Wines Tasted

Disclosure: I received these wines as a media samples. I received no compensation for this post, and all opinions presented are my own.

We tasted four wines, one from the overarching Delle Venezia DOC, and three from the twenty nested DOC that compose the Delle Venezia DOC – one each from the Friuli Grave, and two from the Valdadige

• 2020 Albino Armani Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie – Italy, Delle Venezie
  Pale lemon yellow color with pear, jasmine, and mixed citrus zest aromas. On the palate, it’s light-bodied with mouth-watering zesty acidity and pear, ripe peach, lime zest and a hint of dried herb flavors. Medium finish. 12.5%. Fruit sourced from Triveneto: Veneto, Trentino, and Friuli. Delightful as an apero. Pair with prosciutto & melon, roast chicken, seafood, sushi and lighter pasta dished. 12.5% abv| SRP – $11.99 (88 pts.)
• 2020 Albino Armani Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio – Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Grave
  Pale straw color with white peach, nectarine, pineapple, citrus and dried wildflower aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with vibrant, saline acidity and white peach, nectarine, Meyer lemon flavors accented with a saline, wet stone minerality. Fermented on native yeast and maturated in stainless steel tanks in contact with its own yeasts until bottling. Food pairings: excellent as an aperitif. It is ideal Excellent apero. Also consider summer dishes and vegetarian fare. Medium+ finish. 12.5% abv| SRP – $12.99 (90 pts.)
• 2020 Albino Armani Pinot Grigio Corvara – Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Valdadige
  Pale straw color with enticing white peach, apricot, mixed citrus and dried herb aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with mouth-watering, zesty acidity and pear, apricot confit, green apple, Meyer lemon flavors with an appealing hint of wet stone minerality. Fermented on native yeast and matured in stainless steel with lees contact until bottling. Pair with summer fare from Mediterranean pasta to fish. Medium+ finish. 12.5% abv| SRP – $14.99 (90 pts.)
• 2019 Albino Armani Valdadige Colle Ara – Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Valdadige
  Bright and beautiful copper color with aromatic, peach, apricot, Meyer lemon zest, and dried flower aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, and an appealing hint of tannins and a vibrant, saline acidity with peach, apricot, pineapple, Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit flavors. Vinified in the ancient (Ramato) style with extended cold maceration on grape skins. Fermented on native yeast and raised in stainless steel with and wood with contact on its own less until bottling. 12.5% abv| SRP – $21.99 (91 pts.)

I don’t drink much Pinot Grigio, because most I’ve tasted have been “meh”; but when I have, it’s been from Alto Adige, Delle Venezia’s neighbor to the northwest. Tasting the Pinot Grigio of Delle Venezia was revelatory experience for me. I was very impressed with the wines and the value they offer.

About Albino Armani

Albino and Egle Armani are the 16th generation winegrower (with a 17th generation in the wings!). The own 750 acres of vineyard across the delle Venezia

Informed by 400 plus years of winegrowing and with respect for the land, traditions and innovation Albino Armani takes a sustainable approach to all of its winegrowing activities.

Since 2019, all the Albino Armani vineyards have been certified SQNPI – National Quality System for Integrated Production. This certification effort started in the late 90s, precisely when the design of their biodynamic estate in the Marca Trevigiana, Casa Belfi, was being established. 

The SQNPI is a national certification that aims to help agricultural ecosystems to monitor and reduce environmental impact, reducing the use of synthetic chemicals and rationalizing all agronomic practices such as fertilization and irrigation.

Albino’s passion for Pinot Grigio was certainly obvious during the webinar. In addition to his depth of knowledge about the grape itself, it was fascinating to learn about how indigenous yeast have been isolated, and working together with a local research institute, the best strains were selected and tested. As a result, the best indigenous yeast is reproduced at every harvest and used in the fermentation of all Albino Armani’s Pinot Grigios.