The 2020 Mont'Albano Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave hails from Veneto, Italy, where the winery takes pride in an old Italian inscription Thou traveller who comes from afar, stop and taste the blissful wine at Montalbano Farm.
Mauro Bradiot founded Mont’Albano in 1985 when he converted five hectares of vineyard into a site for organic wine production. His philosophy of sustainable organic viticulture allowed for the winery to blossom, and in 1998 it became a limited partnership company. Now working with passionate winemakers throughout Italy, Mont’Albano produces great wines with an excellent price to quality ratio.
Mont’Albano is situated in the Friuli Venezia-Giulia or FVG wine region, which lies between Veneto, Slovenia and Southern Austria. It is a mostly flat valley with soils full of large stones that heat during the day and chill at night. The stones assist in ripening grapes during the day and maintaining high acidity. Extreme temperatures in the area are also moderated by the Adriatic Sea. FVG white wines are traditionally aromatic, and the pinot grigio is no exception, principally expressing the purity of the grape variety.
The most exciting thing about the Mont'Albano Pinot Grigio Friuli is that it is completely organic and easy on the wallet. It delivers in all areas, being charmingly pure, fresh, fruity and frisky. As a real step up from ‘average’ Pinot Grigio, being organic gives the benefits of extended ageing on lees. Which adds depth and weight to the palate.
Sonja Anich from Dhall & Nash, who has over 30 years of experience with wine education and curation, said the wine is pale straw in colour. Its perfume is distinctly tropical, with a pronounced pear & passionfruit quality with citrus vibrancy. It is a well-structured wine with good acidity and a lingering finish.
The Pinot Grigio appeals to a broad range of wine drinks, it is great for a ladies' lunch or for men that are interested in an easy white. It appeals to all ages and taste buds, both chardonnay and sav drinkers alike. It is “A true crowd-pleaser.”
The bottle is best served now or, it can be shelved up until 2025. It can be an aperitivo served with a classic Italian antipasto, spaghetti, clams or light seafood dish. It also would pair sweetly with creamy gnocchi, freshly grilled fish, veal marsala sauteed pork with sage butter and soft cheeses.
FAST FACTS
Winery Name: Mont’Albano
Location: Veneto, Italy
Region & Country: Friuli Grave, Italy
Grape Variety/Varieties: Pinot Grigio
'Fun Fact' about the wine/winery/winemaker? It is the first organic certified region in Veneto. The labels are printed on recycled paper with environmentally-friendly ink.
