Via Alpina Pinot Grigio 2022

Alcohol: 12.5%

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Grigio

Localization: Friuli, Italy

Tasting Notes: This Pinot Grigio from Giampaolo Venica is produced from dry-farmed, organic fruit purchased from young growers across Collio. Notes of pineapple, passion fruit, mango skin, and honeysuckle ooze from the wine’s clean and focused palate.

The Domain: Venica & Vencia traces its roots to 1930 when Giampaolo’s great-grandfather, Daniele, purchased a small house and plot of land in Dolegna del Collio.

After World War II, Daniele started farming on the property — and because he was growing grapes, he also began producing wine. As he began selling his excess wine and fruit to area restaurants, Daniele and his son Adelchi began purchasing abandoned vineyards and expanding their wine production.

A family winery, Daniele passed the winery to his son Adelchi, who passed it along to his two sons, Gianni and Giorgio.

Giampaolo, Gianni’s son, studied both viticulture and enology in school and then headed to California, South Africa, and Bordeaux to hone his craft. Upon his return, he began managing exports for the family winery. Just recently, Giampaolo took over the winery with his sister and cousins. So the family’s winemaking tradition remains quite strong.