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Top 10 Pinot Grigios of 2023

24 July 2023 By Patrick Schmitt

Following a report on the medal-winners from this year’s Global Pinot Gris Masters 2023, we bring you our top 10 drops from the competition, featuring a set of delicious wines from Italy to the US and UK – one of our category-leaders came from the Cotswolds.

MEZZACORONA DOMENICA PINOT GRIGIO

Producer: Mezzacorona
Region: Trentino
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 12.5%
Residual sugar: 3g/l
Approx. retail price: £8
Medal: Gold

A lovely, inexpensive pale white wine with flavours of ripe pear and white-fleshed peach, balanced by a cleansing lemon-fresh sensation and a touch of chalkiness. While there are plenty of bright zesty characters in this Trentino Pinot Grigio, it has a soft, fruity appeal too.

PINOT GRIGIO FRIULI AQUILEIA DOC

Producer: Ca’Bolani
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 5.34g/l
Approx. retail price: £15
Medal: Gold

A delicate, pristine, and mouthwatering pale white wine with some juicy peach and plum flavours complemented by cleansing characters of fresh apple and bitter lemon that bring a lingering and pleasant feeling of refreshment.

PINOT GRIGIO DOC DELLE VENEZIE

Producer: Albino Armani
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 4.76g/l
Approx. retail price: £12
Medal: Gold

Hailing from the highly respected Pinot Grigio producer Albino Armani comes this gently creamy, pale white wine packed with juicy pear and ripe apple fruit, complemented by a fine chalky grip and hint of bitter lemon to bring this drop to a pleasing and refreshing close.

P.LEX PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE DOC ORGANIC

Producer: Botter
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 12%
Residual sugar: 6.8g/l
Approx. retail price: £25
Medal: Gold

Quite a full-bodied and intensely-flavoured organic Pinot Grigio from the Venezie DOC that’s bursting with juicy apple and pear fruit, complemented by a candied orange note and a fine dusting of dry tannin on the finish to make you salivate.

WOODCHESTER VALLEY PINOT GRIS

Producer: Woodchester Valley
Region: Gloucestershire
Country: UK
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 12%
Residual sugar: 7g/l
Approx. retail price: £20
Medal: Gold

One of the most surprising finds in this year ’s Global Pinot Gris Masters was this wine from Woodchester Valley. Using grapes grown in England’s picturesque Cotswolds, it bettered a host of fine Pinot Grigios from Italy, impressing the judges when tasted blind for its combination of soft sweet fruit flavours and firm, fresh acid structure. In terms of flavour there’s plenty of creamy pear and blood orange, followed by a bitter-lemon character on the finish, giving a lingering and refreshing edge to this off-dry wine.

PINOT GRIGIO DOC DELLE VENEZIE

Producer: Azienda Agricola Ca’ di Rajo
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13%
Residual sugar: 6g/l
Approx. retail price: £13
Medal: Gold

A fine Pinot Grigio from a family-owned winery in the Veneto, the Ca’ di Rajo secured high scores from the judges for its juicy mid-palate and zesty finish, as well as layers of flavours, from peach and grapefruit to orange, complemented by a touch of bitter almond.

JOEL GOTT OREGON PINOT GRIS

Producer: Joel Gott Wines
Region: Willamette Valley
Country: United States
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 13.1%
Residual sugar: 3.1g/l
Approx. retail price: £19.99
Medal: Gold

It makes sense that Oregon, which produces fine Pinot Noir, should be wellsuited to yielding first-rate Pinot Gris too – which after all is a colour mutation of its more ancient, darker-skinned relation. And here is the proof, with Joel Gott’s expressive Pinot Gris, featuring a fruity core and a refreshing finish, with flavours from ripe pear and white-fleshed peach to bitter lemon and grapefruit pith. A lovely wine with depth and a zesty appeal.

AGANIS PINOT GRIGIO FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI DOC 2022

Producer: Azienda Agricola Aganis
Region: Friuli Colli Orientali, Friuli Venezia-Giulia
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Abv: 13%
Residual sugar: 4.5g/l
Vintage: 2022
Approx. retail price: £9.99
Medal: Gold

From the base of the Julian Alps leading down to the Cormor valley, three brothers have produced this authentic, almost magical, wine. Pale gold in colour, it has golden fruits, slightly tropical apricot, peach and Williams pear, with a gentle creamy wood accent. The palate is framed with bright acidity, and includes notes of hazelnut, jasmine and ginger. A pristine wine that calls out for cjarsons, a Friulani potato ‘ravioli’ stuffed with a mix of ricotta and spinach, flavoured with lemon balm, marjoram, thyme, mint and a dash of cinnamon. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

LA RONCAIA PINOT GRIGIO DOC FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI

Producer: Fantinel
Region: Friuli Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2021
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 1g/l
Approx. retail price: £33
Medal: Master

This first-rate Pinot Grigio is treated like a fine white Burgundy, being fermented and aged in French oak, but don’t let that lead you to assume its overwhelmed with woody notes. It has a lovely, gentle creaminess to the mouthfeel, and a subtle peanutty flavour that’s only just detectable behind the juicy nectarine and bitter-lemon characters that dominate this fine, refreshing and complex bone-dry white wine.

MEZZACORONA MUSIVUM PINOT GRIGIO

Producer: Mezzacorona
Region: Trentino
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2018
Grape varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 14%
Residual sugar: 1.1g/l
Approx. retail price: £40
Medal: Master

A fascinating expression of Italian Pinot Grigio, with a straw-coloured appearance and some evolved aromatics from its five years spent ageing in bottle. Mixing with notes of nuts and citrus zest are flavours of beeswax and marmalade, along with a hint of creamy vanilla and baked apple. Texturally, although this is quite a rich wine, there’s a dry, tangy, gently bitter edge to the finish.

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Pinot Gris Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 12 June at Rotunda Kings Cross, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Pinot Gris Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

All the medal-winners from the Global Pinot Gris Masters 2023

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