Giulio Straccali Pinot Grigio 2023 - Tuscany, Italy

Bronze - James Suckling (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2019 vintage)
Bronze - James Suckling (2018 vintage)
Bronze - James Suckling (2017 vintage)
Bronze - James Suckling (2016 vintage)

James Suckling "..sliced-lemon and dried-apple character. Medium body. Lightly fruity," (2019 vintage)

Wine Spectator "A stony, easy-drinking white, light-bodied and juicy, with flavors of ripe pear, candied lemon peel and a hint of herb." (2019 vintage)

James Suckling "Apple and marzipan character with some bitter lemon. Medium body." (2018 vintage)

James Suckling "Preserved lemons, beeswax and green apples form the nose of this white. Medium body, high acidity and a fresh finish." (2016 vintage)

Since 1925 the Straccali wine estate in Tuscany, founded Giulio Straccali, has been in the vanguard of progressive Chianti wine producers. Giulio Straccali was an expert enologist, entrepreneur, farmer and wine producer. Known as a conservationist and protector of the traditions of Chianti wines, Straccali was an admired pioneer of the region. He was instrumental in the founding of the Black Rooster Consortium and from 1942 until his death in 1969, served as Vice President. In 1978 Italo Zingarelli, founder of the Rocca delle Macie estate in Castellina in Chianti, as part of his long-term vision for the region collaborated with the Giulio Straccali winery and later purchased the winery and vineyards from the Straccali family.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when film producer Italo Zingarelli – of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” fame, and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone. The estate now extends to more than 500 hectares (1250 acres) with, in total, more than 200 (500 acres) used as vineyards and 22 (54 acres) as olive groves, subdivided across the company’s six estates: Le Macìe, Sant’Alfonso, Fizzano e le Tavolelle in the Chianti Classico Area, in addition to the Campomaccione and Casa Maria estates in the Morellino di Scansano Area (Maremma).

In Italy’s Lombardy (Lombardia) region you will find some of the most artisan, small production wines, and areas of beautiful unspoiled wine country. Nestled in Italy’s northwest, Lombardy is situated just below Switzerland and to the northeast of Piemonte. Lombardy is a significant gourmet epicenter with the highest concentration of Michelin starred restaurants in Italy. As in other regions throughout Italy, wine production was often tied to religious orders, and many monasteries and abbeys ran a wine business on the side. Today many wineries are located in converted monasteries. DOCGs in Lombardy include Franciacorta (Italy’s best bubbly), Valtellina Superiore (high altitude wines), and Sforzato di Valtellina. Some great DOCs here include Lugana and Garda, while lesser-known DOCs include Botticino (near Brescia), Moscato di Scanzo and Valcalepio (both near Bergamo), and Oltrepò Pavese (south of Pavia).

Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for Pinot Gris. Although the two names refer to a single grape variety, the wine styles they represent are clearly distinct from one another.

The more refreshing Pinot Grigio style has enjoyed great success in various countries, most recently the United States, (where it is fondly nicknamed ""Greej"") and Australia. The most common descriptors of the style are ""light"", ""crisp"" and ""dry"". These characteristics are complemented by aroma notes citing lemon, green apple and blossoms.