Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris or Grauburgunder are all the same grape, depending on where it is grown. Pinot Grigio is the name of the grape variety if it is grown in Italy. Pinot Grigio is mostly grown in Veneto, Aldige and Fruili regions in Italy. Its name is derived from Grigio or Gris (grey) referring to the color of the grape (not white but not red either but a greyish tinge)
Pinot Grigio is known to be light bodied, light in color and acidic. But when you are dealing with top quality producers like Schiopetto, this is not the case.
Mario Schiopetto started producing wines in approximately 1965. He started by leasing vineyards from the Archbishop of the region at that time. He finally purchased all the vineyards in 1989. Mario passed away in 2003 and the estate was sold to the Rotolo family, who also own wineries in the region in 2014.
Mario is credited with leading the modernization of wine practices in this wine region. HIs philosophy is French elegance, German technology, grapes from Fruili.
This wine is made 100% with Pinot Grigio grapes taken from the Collio region (near the Slovenian border). The grapes are grown on hilly areas with marl soil. The grapes are handpicked and soft pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and it is aged on lees for 8 months before further aging in bottle for an additional 5 months. About 200 cases of this wine is produced each years.
2016 was a mid vintage, perfect for Pinot Grigio, which tends to do well in cool climates.
Schiopetto has a unique bottle named the Renana Schiopetto bottle.
For more information about this winery, please visit their website at