The Pizzini whites….

As usual, it was a pleasure to catch up with Natalie Pizzini this month to see some of Pizzini’s new vintages of whites and reds, some of their new additions and their striking new labelling. I can still remember visiting them for the first time over a decade ago. I first wrote about the family in 2011 after I discovered the King Valley winery cellar door for myself on a family trip : Part 2: Where wine is King!

This is a family passion and includes Katrina Pizzini’s cooking school and her excellent recipe book that you can read about here: Pizzini – A Tavola!  

My intermittent updates about their wines allows me to track the wines over time which is something of an indulgence really. Here we go Part 1.

Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2021 

(AU$21)

Pizzini Pinot Grigio is a remarkable Australian Pinot Grigio style that unerringly delivers a whole lot of bang for the value. Of course, this vintage is no exception to that rule. It has a light smokiness that adds dimension to the pear and nut combination on the nose. On the whole, it has a well judged fruit weight with high refreshment appeal. 

Meaning it is elegantly bodied, with fresh acid and a long savoury length. 

Pizzini Verduzzo 2021 

(AU$28)

Verduzzo is still an unusual grape to find in Australia, but I also rarely see it even at Italian regional wine tastings here in the UK. It is of course a grape from the Friuli-Venezia Guilia region but has made a home in Australia. 

You can read more about it here:  The Veritable Story of Viognier, Vermentino & Verduzzo in Australia.

Pizzini Verduzzo is a fleshy yet fresh white wine. One that is carefully made. The grapes are hand harvested still and then whole bunch pressed. After a very cool ferment, about 35% was aged in old French oak where that portion also went through partial malo-lactic ferment for around three months. The rest was matured in stainless steel with weekly lees stirring for the next 5 months. 

The result? A peachy, savoury nut and pear white that fills the mouth with a bursting abundance of flavour. It is very smooth and well rounded, while still fresh. 

And if you kept this for even a short stint in the cellar it will take on a honeyed note. Although, it certainly doesn’t need it.

visit Pizzini for more information.

Part 2 coming next week!