Today’s Wine Wednesday is about Pinot Grigio Ramato, a style of Pinot Grigio that I really enjoy. I had the priviledge of tasting many of these wines during Vinitaly.com in April and again today at an event held by the Consorzio Pinot Grigio delle Venezie together with the World Wine Guys, Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen who just launched their newest book, their 6th on White Wine. The Consorzio was launched in 2017. I know a lot about the Consortium because I used to work with its President, Albino Armani, Albino made an amazing Pinot Grigio Ramato called Colle Ara which I just loved to share with colleagues. Albino told me most people think Pinot Grigio is a white grape but it isn’t. It’s between a white grape and a red one but more towards red. Some call it grey but I don’t think that definition works.

This to say that the Pinot Grigio Ramato style of wine is not one that is forced but rather was the traditional style until the 1980s. In addition to the four I tasted today, I have also tried the one made by Mary J. Blige called Sun Goddess. Her wine which comes from Friuli Venezia Giulia. I found lots of nice minerality, salinity, and herbal notes in the wine and great acidity. It also has considerable residual sugar which I am sure makes it more approachable for most consumers. I had it with Indian food and the sweet/savory notes were perfect with the spice. The ones I tried today and at Vinitaly had less residual sugar I believe. The Sun Goddess wine made by the Fantinel Winery.

People have been dismissing Pinot Grigio for a long time. Since I met Albino, I have looked at the grape differently. I have realized that just because something is more mass market than what you usually drink doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. Mary J. Blige’s wine is a super fun summer/spring wine that had me dancing around my table. I am thinking of Tina Turner today too who apparently was an inspiration for Mary J. Also, I am sure Sun Godesss opening doors for many people to understand what Pinot Grigio Ramato actually is, again, a good thing.