- Vie di Romans, “Isonzo del Friuli”, Chardonnay, Northeast Italy, 2003
$56 - Maso Poli, Pinot Grigio, Trentino, Italy, 2006 $55
- Altanuta, Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2007 $42
- Castello Banfi, “Fontanelle”, Chardonnay, Montalcino, Italy, 2003 $38
- Feudi di San Gregorio, “Falanghina Sannio”, Campania, Italy, 2003 $34
- Tolloy, Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2008 $32
- Teruzzi & Puthod, “Vernaccia di San Gimignano”, Tuscany, Italy, 2006 $28
- Arancio, "Grillo", Sicilia, Italy, 2007 $24
About Pinot Grigio
Pinot gris has been known from the Middle Ages in the Burgundy region, where it was probably called Fromenteau. It spread from Burgundy, along with Pinot noir, arriving in Switzerland by 1300. The clone of Pinot gris grown in Italy is known as Pinot grigio. The grape was reportedly a favorite of the Emperor Charles IV, who had cuttings imported to Hungary by Cistercian monks: the brothers planted the vines on the slopes of Badacsony bordering Lake Balaton in 1375. The vine soon after developed the name Szürkebarát meaning "grey monk." In 1711, a German merchant, named Johann Seger Ruland (re)discovered a grape growing wild in the fields of the Palatinate. The subsequent wine he produced became known as Ruländer and the vine was later discovered to be Pinot gris (grigio).
Around 2005, Pinot gris was enjoying increasing popularity in the marketplace, especially in its Pinot Grigio incarnation and similar New World varietal wines.
