The 4 Best Pinot Grigio Wines from Northern Italy Awarded by Gambero Rosso

Originally from Burgundy, Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir and has been cultivated in Italy for decades, especially in some northern regions. From this grape, almost red in appearance but white in reality, often vinified in contact with the skins to acquire the characteristic "coppery" color, the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli produce wines with great richness. In Alto Adige, higher acidity makes it more age-worthy. Fruity and aromatic whites, graceful but not lacking in structure, have emerged in its wake. Pinot Grigio is also widespread in Alsace, Germany, and Hungary, where it is respectively called rülander and szürkebarat.

Tre Bicchieri 2024: The Best Pinot Grigio Wines

Here, we focus on the Pinot Grigio wines that have been awarded Tre Bicchieri in the Gambero Rosso's Guide to Italian Wines 2024

Valle d'Aosta

VdA Pinot Gris 2022 - Lo Triolet: With its brilliant color, it expresses intense and complex fruity notes of pears and russet apples on the nose. It has a great structure in the mouth with a long and balanced finish. Marco Martin is one of the skilled hands in Valdostan winemaking. Lo Triolet, for many years at the pinnacle of regional excellence, has made Pinot Grigio its company symbol, a grape not always valued as it should be. In this territory, Marco has succeeded in creating a wine of great quality while maintaining the characteristics of the grape, making it an expression of the terroir. The completion of the new winery will increase its space, undoubtedly facilitating production. Not to forget the remarkable hospitality-focused infrastructure.

Alto Adige

Pinot Grigio Giatl Ris. 2020 - Peter Zemmer: A reserve presenting intense suggestions of ripe yellow fruit, with pear prominent and behind it, notes of Mediterranean scrub, smoky nuances, and sulfurous hints. In the mouth, it is full, mature, and of significant presence, accompanied by an acidity not obvious but ensuring tension and dynamism to the sip. Peter Zemmer leads the family business in the Bassa Atesina area, a broad viticultural platform contributed to both by owned vineyards and those managed by local growers, contributing their harvest to the Cortina winery. The vineyards extend not only in the valley near the winery but also explore the eastern and western slopes of the area, with varieties requiring a colder climate reaching almost 1000 meters in altitude

Veneto

Valdadige Terra dei Forti Pinot Grigio Rìvoli 2020 - Roeno: It exhibits a performance of rare precision. From the vineyards of Rivoli Veronese, it matures in steel and oak, giving intense notes of pear and Mediterranean scrub on the nose, with the oak presence just perceptible in the background. The rich, creamy palate with lively vitality extends decisively into a dry and refined finish. Roberta, Cristina, and Giuseppe Fugatti have transformed the company founded by father Rolando into one of the most interesting realities in Verona, mainly active in the Valdadige region but with a keen interest in neighboring territories. The most stimulating novelties come from the Rivoli area, with the renovation works of the new headquarters following the important vineyard renovation work, in a company that, following family tradition, completes winemaking with a well-maintained hospitality activity.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Friuli Isonzo Pinot Grigio Gris - Lis Neris: Returns to the spotlight, winning Tre Bicchieri with the 2021 vintage. Alvaro Pecorari deserves credit for transforming a small farming business into a viticultural one. In small steps, it has assumed respectable proportions and is now one of the most important realities in Italy. Lis Neris has long been an international brand, with attention to detail that gives equal dignity to each label. The vineyards extend over a small plateau of deep gravel dragged downstream by the melting waters of the glaciers of the Eastern Alps, between the Slovenian border and the right bank of the Isonzo River. The added value of this prestigious brand is Alvaro Pecorari himself, who, with the modesty that distinguishes people of style, downplays his own merits and highlights the intrinsic potential of the territory.