If we take a look at the white wines spread worldwide, we find that Italy is known for Pinot Grigio, much to the chagrin of our native grape varieties.
I consider the readers of DoctorWine to be experts and knowledgeable, so I would like to offer them a key take on white wines at the international level, stepping out of the Italian-centric world of territories and “native” grape varieties for once. The question is “what is happening in international markets regarding white wines?”
This is more or less what happens. The most common mid- to high-level white is Chardonnay, aged in wood, even for not very long periods, less than a year, and coming mainly from California, Australia, South Africa and only after France. Italy almost has nothing to do with it, and so do other European nations. Of course there are such Italian wines, but they have no impact on this type in terms of quantity.
They have slightly more, but not even that much, on the world of Sauvignon, the second variety taken into consideration among world consumers. In this case wines that are fragrant, wood-free, and mostly from New Zealand. Then, of course, there are the Sancerre, the Pouilly Fumé, then some Graves and Entre Deux Mers from Bordeaux, some Italians in the Northeast, some Chileans, some Austrians. Nothing compared to New Zealand’s planetary success, from Marlborough especially.
Third variety: the Pinot Grigio. A typology of Burgundian and Alsatian origin, which then spread to Germany, and finally to Italy, to northeastern Italy, currently with the Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie appellation which literally monopolized the situation with over 40 percent of the wine produced. Because it may seem strange to many, but Pinot Grigio is now considered the Italian white wine par excellence. No wood, not too many aromas, good acidity and delicious and easy drinkability. This is the “recipe,” and in this field we Italians are winners. To some this account may seem questionable, trivial, disrespectful of native varieties or territory. That’s the way it is, though, like it or not.
