Wines From Alto Adige Wine #1 – Nals Margreid Penon Pinot Bianco

Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige, Italy.

SRP of $19 and available for as low as $13. Sample received courtesy Cornerstone Communications for review purposes.

From the winemaker:

“A white rich in character and elegance with a typical fruity aroma with notes of apple and pineapple.

13.5% Alcohol”

Alto Adige, in Northern Italy between Austria and Switzerland, is one of the oldest wine growing regions in Europe. Formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until just after WWI, this region benefits from both the mountains of the Alps (the Dolomites) and the Mediterranean sun. We’ll have much more on this unique wine growing region over the next few weeks as we feature a number of wines from this area.

A tremendous variety of grapes are grown in Alto Adige and one of the more popular white varieties is Pinot Bianco (also known as Pinot Blanc in France and Weissburgunder in Germany). All you Pinot Noir fans take note, Pinot Blanc is actually a genetic mutation of the Pinot Noir grape in which a vine occasionally bears white fruit. Wines made from Pinot Blanc are often made in similar style to Chardonnay. We’ll be reviewing a couple of wines made from this grape, but up first is today’s wine from Nals Margreid.

The 2010 Nals Margreid Penon Pinot Bianco begins with a very nice aroma of apple, peach, flowers and stones. The wine tastes very flavorful with a smooth and creamy texture and good acidity. The primary flavors include melon, apple, lemon and a little honey with a stone/mineral base that continues from the bouquet. It ends with a juicy, flavorful finish with a pinch of spice and more mineral notes. A very nice wine that is quite approachable but still offers good complexity.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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Other wines in the Wines From Alto Adige series:

• 2010 Nals Margreid Penon Pinot Bianco
• 2009 Manincor Lagrein Rubatsch
• 2010 Erste + Neue Weissburgunder-Pinot Blanc
• 2010 San Pietro Lagrein
• 2011 Castelfeder 15 Pinot Grigio
• 2010 Colterenzio Weisshaus Pinot Bianco
• 2009 Castel Sallegg Lagrein Riserva
• 2011 Nals Margreid Galea Vernatsch Schiava
• 2010 Tramin Lagrein
• 2010 Tiefenbrunner Turmhof Lagrein