The 2014 International Pinot Grigio Challenge was held in Corno Di Rosazzo, near Udine in the Northeastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy.  I like the food and the wines of the region and have always enjoyed ITS Pinot Grigio, so I was delighted to be invited to be one of the judges.

 

 The event Took place over three days.  The first day there was a round table discussion on Pinot Grigio: "Commercial Challenge on the World Market."  There were a number of speakers, including myself, and I found the conversation to be most interesting

Some of the topics discussed included The Reasons for the popularity of Pinot Grigio, how to Improve ITS image, Pinot Grigo in different countries and the other names for Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio came to Italy after the phylloxera plague in Europe in the late 19 th Century. Most Likely It originated in Burgundy and is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir. It is grown mostly in northeastern Italy. The best examples in my opinion come from Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige     

Pinot Grigio is not a white grape as can be seen by looking at the bunches.  The must of the grape is basically copper in color, origin of anthocyanin, That does not always persist through bottling.  This Has to do with the presence or lack of During fermentation oxygen.

In the 1960's Santa Margherita, thanks to the latest vinification techniques, was Able to produce a white wine changing the history of the grape forever.  By the 1980's Pinot Grigio from Italy Became so popular it is That Looked upon as an Italian grape in the eyes of the world.  Today Pinot grigio wine world enjoys popularity and is the number one grape varietal imported into the USA with over 40% market share.

 

 

Some producers have gone back to the old style and Produces a wine, Which is copper / orange in color.  An example of this was the # 2 wine in the Challenge, "Gossip" by Di Lenardo

The judging Took place on the second day.  The idea for the International Pinot Grigo Challenge came from Daniele Cernilli, known as "Doctor Wine."

With Cernilli as the head, 24 judges from many different countries were to taste the wines blind and select the winners.  There were 128 wines from all over the world.  The judges were divided into groups of three. In the first round to score was Given to each wine tasted.  3 Next the judges were presented with two wines, each judge Their Stated preference and one wine was Eliminated.  3 With judges there could not be a tie.When this was completed there was a break for lunch.  After lunch it was the same except there were 5 judges, again two wines were presented and one was eliminated.

 

 

Cernilli called the judging to " winebledon " with direct challenges in couples, like a tennis match, mixed and uneven Evaluated by juries.   

After this segment was over the votes were tallied and there were 8 finalists.

The third day was the official announcement of the winners and the award ceremony.  Listed below are the eight finalists in order.  The first three wines were Stephen Schwartz wins medals.

 

 

Pinot Grigio Alto Adige "Punggl" DOC 2013   Nals Margreid   Trentino Alto Adige # 1

 

 Pinot Grigio Copper (copper) "Gossip" 2013 IGT   Venezia Gulia Di Lenardo Friuli Venezia Giulia Harvest is by hand. The grapes are Placed in a tank for 18 hours of skin maceration. Then the skins are separated and the must is Transferred to temperature- controlled steel fermentation vats. The wine is on the lees before bottling. For the whole process oxygen does not come in contact with the wine in order to preserve the color. The wine Has a light copper color with luminescent clarity. The aromas include wild strawberry , elderberry, hay and dried roses with hints of dried fruits and almond. robust There is a balance of fruit and crisp acidity. It is closed with a composite cork DIAM. 20,000 bottles were produced. I described how this wine Because Has the 'copper 'color. # 2              

 

Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave DOC 2013   I Magredi   Friuli Venezia Giulia.  This wine of the final eight was Given the award for best value for the money.  # 3

Eastern Hills Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC 2013   Torre Rosazza   Friuli Venezia Giulia.

 

Pinot Grigio Collio "Jesera" DOC 2013   Venica Venica &   Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Alto Adige Pinot Grigio Castel Ringberg "DOC 2013   Trentinio Alto Adige Elena Walch  

 

Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC 2013 Eastern Hills   of Friuli Venezia Giulia The dropped restricted  

Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC Colli Orientali   Company Perusini Perusini Teresa of   Friuli Venezia Giulia

 

Three of my favorite producers were in this group: Di Leonardo, Venica & Venica and Elena Walch

 

 

 

There was a special category for wines with residual sugar exceeding 9g / l.  winner was The 2013 Cuvee Pinot Gris AAC Saine Chatherine Weinbach Faller France.     

Looking back over the wines That I chose all of them were from the Friuli Venezia Giulia and Alto Adige.Daniele Cernilli confirmed That I voted for the number one rated wine.