Elena Walch, Alto Adige | 538 Wine Notes

2015 Pinot Grigio

Everyone knows Pinot Grigio. The easy, breezy warm weather wine that goes down like water or thrown at real and desperate housewives. Yet do you really know Pinot Grigio? This Pinot is the same grape as the northern European Pinot Gris in Alsace and Grauburgunder in Germany and Austria. And no one thinks of these wines as easy, simple, watery, neutral, unsophisticated housewife wine. So what happened?

Not to go into a marketing history lesson, I’ll just throw out my unscientific arguments. Wine isn’t always good. And sometimes people like quantity versus quality. Pinot Grigio (and Gavi and Soave) can be made easily in large crops, near town with mechanical farming. And it will have a watered-down taste. And will be easy to enjoy at a pool party. And it will be inexpensive. These are not necessarily bad things. But this should not be the only Pinot Grigio that we know!

Elena Walch is a leading Alto Adige wine estate, in family hands, and belongs to the elite in Italian wine production, with international success. Encouraging quality and innovation, Elena Walch stood at the head of the Alto Adige quality revolution and has gained local and international esteem for her efforts. An architect by trade, Elena married into one of the oldest and most significant wine families of the region and brought new, modern concepts to the traditional establishment. Now, the responsibility for the family business is being put into the hands of the daughters, Julia and Karoline Walch, already the fifth generation.

The philosophy of the estate is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be the individual expression of their soil, climate and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to principles of sustainability and passed on to the next generation. The firm belief that the quality of wine is created in the vineyard requires uncompromising work, considering the individuality of each vineyard. With 60 hectares in cultivation, including the two top vineyards VIGNA Castel Ringberg in Caldaro und VIGNA Kastelaz in Tramin, Elena Walch belongs to the most important protagonists of Alto Adige winemaking.

The wines show character, elegance and great personality, reflecting the most professional winemaking. The superb climatic conditions and the excellent location of the vineyards produce fresh and fruity white wines. This Pinot Grigio captivates with light straw yellow and fruity notes of ripe pears, white pepper and a bit of sage in the nose. Mineral-salty richness and a prolonged are distinctive on the palate. A wine with backbone and a likeable companion to many dishes. Drink as an aperitif, with pasta dishes, mild cheeses, grilled fish. Or by the pool.

Not to go into a marketing history lesson, I’ll just throw out my unscientific arguments. Wine isn’t always good. And sometimes people like quantity versus quality. Pinot Grigio (and Gavi and Soave) can be made easily in large crops, near town with mechanical farming. And it will have a watered-down taste. And will be easy to enjoy at a pool party. And it will be inexpensive. These are not necessarily bad things. But this should not be the only Pinot Grigio that we know!

Elena Walch is a leading Alto Adige wine estate, in family hands, and belongs to the elite in Italian wine production, with international success. Encouraging quality and innovation, Elena Walch stood at the head of the Alto Adige quality revolution and has gained local and international esteem for her efforts. An architect by trade, Elena married into one of the oldest and most significant wine families of the region and brought new, modern concepts to the traditional establishment. Now, the responsibility for the family business is being put into the hands of the daughters, Julia and Karoline Walch, already the fifth generation.

The philosophy of the estate is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be the individual expression of their soil, climate and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to principles of sustainability and passed on to the next generation. The firm belief that the quality of wine is created in the vineyard requires uncompromising work, considering the individuality of each vineyard. With 60 hectares in cultivation, including the two top vineyards VIGNA Castel Ringberg in Caldaro und VIGNA Kastelaz in Tramin, Elena Walch belongs to the most important protagonists of Alto Adige winemaking.

The wines show character, elegance and great personality, reflecting the most professional winemaking. The superb climatic conditions and the excellent location of the vineyards produce fresh and fruity white wines. This Pinot Grigio captivates with light straw yellow and fruity notes of ripe pears, white pepper and a bit of sage in the nose. Mineral-salty richness and a prolonged are distinctive on the palate. A wine with backbone and a likeable companion to many dishes. Drink as an aperitif, with pasta dishes, mild cheeses, grilled fish. Or by the pool.