Pinot Grigio DOC “Dessimis” 2021 – Vie di Romans

The grapes to produce the Pinot Grigio DOC “Dessimis” Vie di Romans were destemmed and crushed before undergoing a pre-fermentation cold maceration at 8ºC for 20-22 hours. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at a temperature of 16-19ºC for a period of 15 days with selected yeast strains. Malolactic fermentation did not take place. The wine was matured on its lees for nine months in French oak barriques, of which 20% are new. The wine then spent ten months in bottle before release.

The two parcels of the Dessimis vineyard are a total of nine hectares. Planted with east-west and north-south exposure, they are located in the commune of Mariano del Friuli at 34 metres above sea level on shallow, well-drained, gravelly clay soils which contain ferrous and aluminium oxides. The vines are 22 years old on average and are both simple guyot and spur pruned.

Vie di Romans is based in the heart of Isonzo, where Gianfranco Gallo’s 50 hectares of vineyard produce about 250,000 bottles a year. The soil is stony and glacial, and soaks up whatever rainfall there is like a sponge. A cool east wind causes a big difference between day and night temperatures, which in turn slows ripening and allows the grapes to accumulate a great deal of flavour. This, along with the low yields Gallo achieves, and his proclivity for late picking, gives single vineyard wines of great intensity and richness. As a result, he releases the wines a year later than usual.