Grey-red grape variety cultivated in Apulia
Pinot Grigio g. is a grey-red grape, of important national and international diffusion, suitable for the whole Apulia region.
The grey-red grape variety, Pinot Grigio g., represents a mutation of Pinot Nero, known since 1375 for having been imported into Hungary from France.
It is possible to distinguish it from Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero only after the veraison. In Italy it arrived towards the end of the 19th century. It was also successfully introduced in Apulia.
Borgogna grigio, Rulander, Strahler (in Italia).
Shoot tip: expanded, pubescent, green-greyish.
Leaf: small, cordate, trilobate. Open V-shaped petiole sinus, or with slightly overlapping lobes. V-shaped upper lateral sinuses, barely marked lower lateral sinuses, if present.
Bunch: small or very small, cylindrical, often winged, dense.
Berry: medium-small, slightly elliptical. Pruinose, medium thick, compact, red-grey skin. Flesh with neutral taste.
Time of bud burst: intermediate-early
Flowering time: intermediate
Veraison: intermediate
Ripening: intermediate-early
Vigour: good
Average bunch weight: 120 g (min 70 g – max 190 g)
Average berry weight: 1.4 g (min 1.2 g – max 1.7 g)
Number of seeds per berry: 1 2
Average rachis weight: 8 g
Fertility of buds: 1 – 2
Potential fertility: 1.5
Actual fertility: 1.2
Prefers medium-high training, with medium-long pruning, Guyot-style. Better results on hilly clayey soil.
Alcoholic content: 10.5 – 14 % by vol.
pH: 3.1 – 3.7
Total acidity: 5 – 7.5 g/l
Grapes from the Pinot Grigio g. vine are used exclusively for vinification to produce still wine or spumante charmat method wine of high quality.
The wine is light golden yellow in colour with more or less intense pinkish reflections, depending on the wine-making technique used. It is full-bodied, dry in taste, fairly alcoholic, appropriately acidic, and slightly perfumed.
The Pinot Grigio g. vine belongs to the group of the most important international quality vines and is widespread in the most renowned wine-growing areas of the world and also in Italy.
In Apulia, it has found good interest because of the excellent quality of its wine and the positive commercial results obtained on world markets. It is registered among the vines suitable for cultivation throughout the region.
Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com
The data sheet of the Pinot Grigio g., revised and updated, is extracted from: Antonacci Donato (2006). Viti di Puglia, Adda publisher. Its use is granted by the author citing the source.