From: Alto Adige, Italy
Varietal: Pinot Bianco
Taste & Critical Acclaim: "This gorgeous Pinot Bianco is everything pretty. Showcasing freshness, minerality, and a purity of fruit, it is a white wine perfect for sharing and pairing. White pears and Gala apples lead the way into fresh stone fruits, lemon citrus, and white flowers. An undercurrent of stony minerality presents itself in aroma and palate and provides a tension-filled contrast to its array of fruits. Delicious!"
–James Suckling, 92 points
"Lemon-rind, grapefruit and crushed-stone aromas here, as well as a touch of myrrh. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and clear-cut with bright acidity and a mineral finish." –Wine Spectator, 91 points
A lithe and lively white, with a mineral underpinning, showing a lovely range of Gala apple, nectarine, quince blossom and green almond notes. Well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2028. 3,400 cases imported.
Pairing: Pinot Bianco’s like this one pairs excellently with roast or grilled poultry, salads, or other light meats. Other fantastic options include mild cheeses, seafood, pasta, and picnic fare. Within these categories, some specific examples for inspiration include serving this wine with dishes like roast chicken or turkey or taking those leftovers and making a roast poultry salad with croutons and shallot dressing, a turkey and apple sandwich with maple mayonnaise, pan-roasted fish fillets with herb butter, pan-seared scallops with brown butter, and grouper fillets with ginger and coconut curry (check it out below).
Grouper Fillets With Ginger and Coconut Curry
Recipe from Patrick Jamon, adapted by John Willoughby
About. Many thanks to our supplier friends at Wilson Daniels for the following information.
Elena Walch is a 5-generation family-run estate in Alto Adige, a region in the northeast part of Italy that led the wine quality revolution in the area and has gained a prominent international reputation.
The estate's philosophy is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be
the individual expression of their soil, climate, and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to sustainability principles and passed on to the
next generation. The firm belief that the quality of wine created in the vineyard requires uncompromising work, considering each vineyard's individuality. With 90
hectares in cultivation, including the two top vineyards VIGNA Castel Ringberg in Caldaro and VIGNA Kastelaz in Tramin, Elena Walch belongs to the most important protagonists of Alto Adige winemaking.
Vineyard Profile
Vineyards are located on light limestone and porphyric soils on steep slopes. Positioned at varied altitudes, some reach up to 900m above sea level while others are at
a moderate 250m. All grapes are handpicked with extreme precision.
Appellation: Alto Adige DOC
Location: Italy
Cultivation: Sustainable
Soil: Light limestone and porphyric soils Exposure: Southeast-Southwest
Vintage Report
The 2023 vintage was an interesting one! Despite a challenging growing season that included fluctuating warm and cool periods and some rain, they had a successful harvest season with ideal ripening conditions. After a warm June and July and high rainfall in early August, the grapes had ample time to ripen under optimal conditions with plenty of sunshine. Harvest began late in early September under ideal conditions, which later gave way to more unstable weather. The combination of warm days and cool nights allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness, resulting in balanced acidity levels and clear fruit with good structure.
Vinification
Post-harvest, grapes are crushed and pressed carefully. The must is then clarified at low temperatures and fermented at a controlled temperature of 20°C in stainless steel tanks. The wine is left to mature in the same tanks on the fine lees for several months.
Aging: In temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks Technical Information
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Bianco
Alcohol: 13%
TA: 6.3 g/L RS: 2.2 g/L
