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Top 15 Pinot Grigios of 2024

14 November 2024 By Patrick Schmitt

Following our Global Pinot Grigio Masters earlier this year, we pick out the top 15 wines from the competition, including some fine rosés, a celebrity-backed bottle, as well as refreshing whites from a range of nations, such as Romania and California, New Zealand and Australia, as well as of course, France and Italy.

WILDFLOWER PINOT GRIGIO 2023

Producer: Cramele Recas
Region: Recas
Country: Romania
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 11%
Approx. retail price: £9.99

An enjoyable, affordable Pinot Grigio from the reliably good source of inexpensive wine that is Romania’s Cramele Recas. Rich in flavours of ripe apple and chunks of pineapple, it’s fruity, as well as a touch creamy. Helping to fill out the mid-palate is 5g/l of residual sugar, although the wine finishes fresh and dry. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

LAWSON’S DRY HILLS RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2022

Producer: Lawson’s Dry Hills
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 13%
Approx. retail price: £15

Made in an appealing, slightly oily style, with a touch of creaminess, this is a nicely-weighted Pinot Gris with a bitter lemon edge to refresh and make you salivate, while its core characters include peach and pear, making it quite fruity, if not aromatic like Marlborough’s Sauvignons. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

NALS MARGREID PUNGGL PINOT GRIGIO 2022

Producer: Nals Margreid
Region: Alto Adige
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 14.5%
Approx. retail price: £24.50

A great example of oak-influenced Pinot Grigio, this Punggl (‘small hill’) from Nals Margreid uses large wooden vats to ferment grapes from 80-year-old, pergola-trained vines. It’s intensely flavoured, with notes of pear and juicy lemon, peach and hazelnuts, then toast and a hint of vanilla cream. It’s a medium-weight white with a lingering, cleansing, zesty edge. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

NALS MARGREID HILL PINOT GRIGIO 2023

Producer: Nals Margreid
Region: Alto Adige
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13.5%
Approx. retail price: £19

An outstanding Pinot Grigio, with plenty of colour, aromatics and flavour intensity, that mixes notes of peach and pear with bitter, zesty characters to offset the ripe fruit at its core. Finishes with persistent flavours of juicy lemon and rock salt. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

MEZZACORONA MUSIVUM PINOT GRIGIO SUPERIORE 2018

Producer: Mezzacorona
Region: Trentino
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13.5%
Approx. retail price: £29.99

An exciting chance to taste fine Trentino Pinot Grigio with a bit of bottle age, this ‘musivum’ release from the 2018 vintage is a beautiful white gold, and loaded with notes of peaches and cream, tangerine and honey, with a lingering note of hazelnuts and marzipan, along with a hint of citrus pith to refresh. Delicious. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

PROPHET’S ROCK PINOT GRIS 2021

Producer: Prophet’s Rock
Region: Central Otago
Country: New Zealand
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 14%
Approx. retail price: £25

One of our top-scoring Pinot Gris of 2024 hailed from New Zealand’s South Island, where Prophet’s Rock has crafted a wine of power and precision. Notably, the appearance is slightly cloudy, with a deep lemon-yellow colour, and a palate that’s full, oily and slightly creamy, with notes of peach and pear, hay and honey, then a hint of vanilla too. Despite the richness of this Pinot Gris, it’s so easy to drink, with a delicate zestiness, and a juicy citrus note on the finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

LA RONCAIA PINOT GRIGIO DOC FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI 2022

Producer: La Roncaia
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13.5%
Approx. retail price: £33

A brilliant producer of Pinot Grigio that always scores well in the competition, La Roncaia is a complex wine with layers of complementary flavours, from cream and hazelnut to toasted almonds, peach and ripe citrus, along with a touch of tangerine. Lingering on the finish are palate-cleansing characters of lime zest, giving this Pinot Grigio an appealing bite, despite the ripe yellow fruit that features prominently on the mid-palate. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

VIE DI ROMANS FRIULI ISONZO DESSIMIS 2022

Producer: Vie di Romans
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 14.5%
Approx. retail price: £48

Not just an outstanding Pinot Grigio, but a wonderful wine, this pale copper-coloured Pinot Grigio from Friuli Isonzo is a delicious, layered and indulgent drink that deserves wider recognition in the world of fine whites. Among the many flavours that feature in this complex wine are notes of vanilla and peach, ruby grapefruit and toast, marzipan and pear, with a lingering set of characters on the finish that range from bitter almond to fresh lemon. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

GORDON RAMSAY PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE DOC 2023

Producer: Cantine Vitevis
Region: Delle Venezie
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 11%
Approx. retail price: £10

A really impressive, affordable and super-fruity Italian Pinot Grigio, with ripe characters ranging from passionfruit to peach, as well as pear and pineapple. In terms of texture, it has a slightly oily mouthfeel, but a lemonfresh finish. A great find for £10. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

ANTONUTTI PINOT GRIGIO FRIULI DOC 2023

Producer: Antonutti Vini
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 12.5%
Approx. retail price: £12.99

With more than 100 years of history over four generations, Antonutti Vini is making sensational wines in the western part of Grave del Friuli. This wine, from gravel-clay soils, has a pale lemon-green hue, and white peach and golden apple fruit, with lemon zest and crushed yellow rose accents. The palate is packed with melon and pineapple flavours, bolstered by fresh acidity overlaid with limestone notes. This is a glass to join up with oysters in Champagne sauce or Dover sole in a tarragon-infused white sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

MÉNAGE À TROIS PINOT GRIGIO 2021

Producer: Ménage à Trois Wines
Region: California
Country: USA
Grape varieties: 79% Pinot Grigio, 7% Colombard, 7% Riesling, 7% other white varieties
ABV: 12.5%
Approx. retail price: £8.99

Although based in S. Helena, Ménage à Trois sources its grapes throughout California. Starting with three varieties, occasionally the winemakers add others – ‘one, two, three… lots’ – to create their blended wines. This one, based on Pinot Grigio, is in keeping with the grape’s northern Italian heritage. Pale lemon in colour, the wine is fresh and fruity, showing golden and red apples and pear, with crushed rose petal overlay and a hint of vanilla from gentle oak ageing. The palate is nearly dry (5.6g/l residual sugar) and light-bodied, with racy acidity, and good intensity and length. Perfect on a summer’s day with fish and chips while enjoying a view of the river. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

MASTRI VERNACOLI PINOT GRIGIO ROSATO IGT VIGNETI DELLE DOLOMITI 2023

Producer: Cavit
Region: Trentino
Country: Italy
Grape varieties: 90% Pinot Grigio, 9% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Nero
ABV: 12.5%
Approx. retail price: £8.99

Cavit has long been producing rosato wines from Trentino, and this one is based on Pinot Grigio with a little Pinot Nero for the pale peach colour. The nose shows yellow peach, golden apple and crushed rose petals. Dry, the palate has a light body and attractive fruit, framed by lively acidity and a hint of pétillance. A pretty wine, good as an apéritif, but an excellent pairing for lighter fish dishes or cheese fondue. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

DE BORTOLI 17 TREES PINOT GRIS 2023

Producer: De Bortoli
Region: Riverina
Country: Australia
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
ABV: 13.0%
Approx. retail price: £12.99

De Bortoli started its 17 Trees sustainability initiative in 2008, to plant 17 trees for each company vehicle in order to offset the carbon effects of the fleet, whether tractors, trailers or cars. This wine is one of the tributes to that aim, still going strong with more than 69,000 trees planted so far. The wine, pale lemon-green in hue, has golden apple and pear fruit, with a lemon custard accent. Dry – just (5g/l residual sugar) – and light-bodied, the palate is supported by crisp acidity and a creamy texture. Easy-drinking in style, the wine is a great aperitif, and works well with picnic foods, such as poached salmon and cucumber sauce, or coronation chicken. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

DOMAINE DE REUILLY LES FOSSILES REUILLY AOC 2023

Producer: Domaine de Reuilly
Region: Reuilly, Loire Valley
Country: France
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 13%
Approx. retail price: £21.99

Denis Jamain’s estate is located at the far eastern end of the centre of the Loire Valley. Based on marine and shell fossil soils deriving from the Jurassic period, the grapes take these mineral nuances through to the wines. This Pinot Gris, almost certainly planted post-phylloxera with vines from nearby Bourgogne, has a pale lemon colour and typical lemon custard and cream flavour, accented by a rhododendron note. Dry and mid-weight, the palate has svelte texture and earthy, almost smoky nuances, as well as good freshness. Savoury, this is a wine to serve with swordfish or tuna steak, accompanied by a green pesto sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

WAKEFIELD TAYLORS WINES, THE AROMANTIQUES PINOT GRIS 2023

Producer: Wakefield Taylors Wines
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Country: Australia
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Gris
ABV: 12.5%
Approx. retail price: £12.99

Anyone for a game of boules on the grass outside Wakefield’s Clare Valley cellar door, next to Bill Taylor’s original vineyard? Preferably with a glass of this delightful, aromatic Pinot Gris in the other hand. Pale lemon-green in hue, the wine exudes white fruits and lemon blossom, pears and peaches, with an orange zest overlay. Nearly dry (4 g/l residual sugar), the palate is light-bodied and has good intensity and zesty acidity. An earthy nuance shows the varietal character of Pinot Gris, and the savoury flavour suggests that it might suit seared chicken breasts with a Thai-inspired sweet red pepper sauce… after the boules, of course. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

All the medallists from the Global Pinot Grigio Masters 2024

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Pinot Gris Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 11 June at Rotunda in 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

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