As winter melts into sunny spring, there’s one white wine on everyone’s mind.
That’s right, it’s finally Pinot Grigio season. And to kick things off we’re celebrating National Pinot Grigio Day on May 17.
With warmer weather on our doorstep, the days getting longer, and heavy coats slowly but surely being packed away, finding a crisp Pinot Grigio is a top priority. Thanks to an explosion in popularity in the 70s and 80s, Pinot Grigio is often seen as a mass-market white wine, yet it is actually one of the season’s best bets — if you know where to look.
Let’s start in the Dolomites. Northern Italy is a major player in the Pinot industry, especially the Alto Adige region, where it’s one of the most-planted vines. Fed by glacial waters, pristine alpine valleys produce some of the best Pinot Grigio (otherwise known as Pinot Gris outside the region, or Grauburgunder in Germany) on the market thanks to the high altitude, warm days, and cool nights. These wines are not your neutral, grocery store wines. They are nuanced, and craft-produced.
Italy’s Mezzacorona is at the top of the list when it comes to Pinot Grigio producers. It has produced elegant, Estate Grown wines known for their carefully balanced profiles since 1904. This century of experience manifests as an acute knowledge of the region’s finicky climates and robust terroirs, and complements state of the art facilities, to set the winery apart. Today, the winery is not only the largest Italian estate producer of Pinot Grigio, but also Chardonnay, and the leading producer in the Trentino DOC.
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio is cultivated using the traditional pergola style, which means the vines are trained to grow high above the ground along a wooden or wire trellis, where they can capture just the right amount of sunlight for their grapes to ripen. An early fall harvest, traditionally done by hand, ensures optimal ripeness and leads to a perfectly balanced, perfectly crisp Pinot Grigio.
The resulting wines are as beautiful as the stunning Italian Alps that surround the hillside vineyards. Balanced and delicate yet full of flavor, it’s no surprise Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio has a laundry list of strong ratings to boot. Vintage after vintage, the quality persists.
Known for its aromatic notes of crisp green apple and honeysuckle, and a distinct minerality that reflects the terroir, it’s not hard to understand why Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio is the perfect bottle to be enjoyed al fresco. Floral tones and exotic fruit finish smooth on the palate. Elegant, fresh flavors pair well with a table full of the season’s freshest ingredients. And it can stand up to any course, from appetizers to soups, pastas, and mains of white meat or fish.
It’s a special wine that isn’t just for special occasions. A rare blend of personality that never becomes overpowering, Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio can easily impress a wide spectrum of wine drinkers.
From casual backyard barbecues with the family to an intimate dinner with friends, Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio is the bottle you can count on to hit all the right notes and even turn a few heads.
For those who are curious about this awesome wine, check out the VinePair podcast on May 17th to learn more. There, Mezzacorona’s winemaker Maurizio Maurizi will join the pod to discuss everything Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio and Italian Alpine winemaking.
This article is sponsored by Mezzacorona.
