Ziobaffa Organic Pinot Grigio 2021
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
The grapes are fermented at low temperature in stainless steel tanks for a long period to preserve the complexity of the aromas. It is plump and juicy, zesty with tangy flavors of Meyer lemon, Honeycrisp apple, pickled ginger, and white stone. A delicious Pinot Grigio, a little more rich and full than the same wines produced in the North Italy.
Ziobaffa Pinot Grigio pairs well with a wide array of lighter cuisine, especially fìsh/shellfìsh, poultry, pasta in cream sauce, and softer cheeses. It's also an excellent aperitif.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Ziobaffa Organic Pinot Grigio is appealing and offers excellent weight on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, sandalwood, tart citrus, and dried earthy notes. Pair it with linguine and clams in a light garlic-accented sauce. (Tasted: July 10, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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2022-
Wilfred
Wong
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James
Suckling
During a trip through Italy with surfer-environmentalist, Chris Del Moro and fifth generation winemaker, Piergiorgio Castellani, Baffa's passion for good food, thirst-quenching libation and a few late-night practical jokes, inspired the local crew of surfers to nick-name him, Zio Baffa (Uncle Baffa).
Under the guidance of vintner Castellani, ZIOBAFFA™ wine is crafted in a zero-waste facility located in the heart of Tuscany. From California, Baffa works closely with Castellani to manage the operations. Our collective focus is to bring the world affordable, high-quality Italian wines that are produced with an eco-minded awareness. Call it an Italian-Californian collaboration or maybe just a modern twist on an old tradition.
Castellani and ZIOBAFFA have made conscious efforts to infuse our products with an ethos of quality & sustainability. 100% of energy used in manufacturing is from renewable resources and NDV certified with a "zero waste" program, recycling all possible waste and purifying polluted water. Additionally, our ZIOBAFFA bottles utilize recycled glass in their creation. 100% of the paper we use for our label is FSC (The Forest Stewardship Council) certified and is produced from raw material obtained through sustainable farming practices. The labels are printed with non-toxic ink and affixed using bio-friendly, non-toxic glue.
Showing a unique rosy, purplish hue upon full ripeness, this “white” variety is actually born out of a mutation of Pinot Noir. The grape boasts two versions of its name, as well as two generally distinct styles. In Italy, Pinot Grigio achieves most success in the mountainous regions of Trentino and Alto Adige as well as in the neighboring Friuli—all in Italy’s northeast. France's Alsace and Oregon's Willamette Valley produce some of the world's most well-regarded Pinot Gris wine. California produces both styles with success.
Where Does Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio Come From?
Pinot Gris is originally from France, and it is technically not a variety but a clone of Pinot Noir. In Italy it’s called Pinot Grigio (Italian for gray), and it is widely planted in northern and NE Italy. Pinot Gris is also grown around the globe, most notably in Oregon, California, and New Zealand. No matter where it’s made or what it’s called, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio produces many exciting styles.
Tasting Notes for Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a dry, white wine naturally low in acidity. Pinot Grigio wines showcase signature flavors and aromas of stone fruit, citrus, honeysuckle, pear and almond. Alsatian styles are refreshing, expressive, aromatic (think rose and honey), smooth, full-bodied and richly textured and sometimes relatively higher in alcohol compared to their Italian counterpart. As Pinot Grigio in Italy, the style is often light and charming. The focus here is usually to produce a crisp, refreshing, lighter style of wine. While there are regional differences of Pinot Grigio, the typical profile includes lemon, lime and subtle minerality.
Pinot Grigio Food Pairings
The viscosity of a typical Alsatian Pinot Gris allows it to fit in harmoniously with the region's rich foods like pork, charcuterie and foie gras. Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, with its citrusy freshness, works well as an aperitif wine or with seafood and subtle chicken dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Given the pinkish color of its berries and aromatic potential if cared for to fully ripen, the Pinot Grigio variety is actually one that is commonly used to make "orange wines." An orange wine is a white wine made in the red wine method, i.e. with fermentation on its skins. This process leads to a wine with more ephemeral aromas, complexity on the palate and a pleasant, light orange hue.
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.