Attems Pinot Grigio

Attems is one of Friuli’s most historic producers, with a winemaking heritage dating back nearly a millennium. Count Douglas Attems, who led his family’s estate for the second half of the 20th Century, was one of the leading forces in helping Friuli attain its DOC status. In 2000, he sold the estate to Marchese Vittorio Frescobaldi, and the quality of the estate’s wines rose even higher.

Sandy rocky soils, warm days, and cool nights are the key features of Attems’ estate vineyards. The well-drained, mineral-rich soils of Friuli result in wines with concentrated, full flavors. Optimum ripening conditions are a direct result of the warm and sunny days and cool nights; when you combine this with hand harvesting and sorting and a state of the art winery, it should come as no surprise that a great bottle of wine is produced.

So what’s it taste like? In a blind tasting, I’d guess high quality Alsatian or Oregon Pinot Gris. It’s packed with with notes of white peach, pear, apple, and white flowers. Medium to full bodied and fleshy, it remains fresh and zesty with food friendly acidity.