Home  Webisodes > 2012 Webisode #12134 - November 2012 Vintners Series Wines   Pinot Grigio, 2011. Casa Grande

Item # V1112W1 Pinot Grigio, 2011. Casa Grande Vintage: 2011 Varietal: Pinot Grigio Vineyard/Appellation: Venezia, Italy Color: Golden Nose: Guava, pear and roasted nuts Palate: Lovely pear nuance with honeysuckle Finish: Very crisp with a touch of guava Rating: 95 Cellaring/Serving Suggestions: Drink now through 2014 Podcast Link: Online Wine Tasting with the Cellarmaster : CASA GRANDE - WHITE Retail Price $19.99      Log In for LOWEST price Price: Qty: Write your own review Printable Version

Casa Grande Pinot Grigio is a traditional style northern Italian wine from the region where Pinot Grigio originated in Italy. A true classic from northern Italy, this wine is from one of the foremost wine producing regions known for quality and the production of Pinot Grigio in Veneto.

The winery is located in the municipalities of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, where the original and ancient areas of production of Soave and Pinot Grigio, known in northern Italy as the Historic Area; the winery is located in the heart of this region. Pinot Grigio has been known since the Middle Ages in the Burgundy region, of France where it was probably called Fromenteau. It spread from Burgundy, along with Pinot Noir, arriving in Italy and Switzerland by 1300. The grape was reportedly a favorite of the Emperor Charles IV, who had cuttings imported to Hungary by Cistercian monks.

Pinot Grigio is a white wine grape variety of the species vitis vinifera, and thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot Noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name ("Grigio" or "Gris" meaning "gray" in Italian and French) but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. The word "Pinot", which means "pinecone" in French, could have been given to it because the grapes grow in small pinecone-shaped clusters. The wines produced from this grape also vary in color from a deep golden yellow to copper, and even a light shade of pink.

The nose explodes with a pleasant bouquet of citrus fruit that is wide, full, and persistent.On the palate, delicious citrus flavors merge with accents of minerals and floral notes to produce a bolder, richer version of this classic wine. The bright, crisp, full flavors are achieved by having longer contact with the skins during fermentation, which is the old world style of making Pinot Grigio. Pairs perfectly with fish, shellfish, poultry and pasta, especially when prepared with cream or butter sauces.

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