Willowglen Pinot Grigio 2013

When you walk in to a wine shop/go on to a wine website, what do you want? Do you want a wine that is made in a careless, mechanised manner? Or do you want a wine that has enjoyed TLC from a loving, family-run winery who care deeply about the quality of their wine and the heritage that informs it? Happily, De Bortoli fall into the latter camp. They are a third generation family, proud of their Italian roots and their passion for characterful wine with a sense of place is abundantly evident here. Warmly grassy, with fresh lemon and pear fruit, this wine speaketh of TLC well spent.

De Bortoli Wines is a third generation family wine company established by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli in 1928. The couple emigrated to Australia from Northern Italy, from mountain villages at the foothills of the Italian Alps, near the historic town of Asolo.

Their son, the energetic and dynamic Deen De Bortoli, (1936 – 2003) expanded and consolidated the business created by his parents. Deen's children established De Bortoli's reputation for premium wine including icon dessert wine Noble One and the Yarra Valley wines.

Italian family values passed down from Vittorio remain core values, there is a culture of hard work, generosity of spirit and of sharing good food, good wine and good times with family and friends.

The winemaking philosophy is that great wine begins in the vineyard. The belief is that sustainable vineyard practices will deliver exceptional fruit quality to the winery as well as real environmental benefits. The focus is on careful site selection, vine maturity and high input viticulture with a move towards biological farming principles. There is also increasing awareness of the importance of single vineyard wines. In the winery minimal interference, allowing the wine to 'make itself' and the mantra ‘it is harder to do nothing’ encapsulate this belief. They say: ‘It's about site and season, making wines with detail, texture and minerality, charm and interest. Character and personality in wine comes from the imperfections of nature.’

Fermentation took place on natural solids at elevated temperatures and the wine was aged in selected parcels in French oak barriques. The components remained on yeast lees for an extended time, intensifying the natural fruit flavours and texture of the wine.

Pale straw in colour, this Pinot Grigio has fresh fruit and fragrant grassy aromas on the nose. On the palate it is dry, light bodied and refreshing with fresh fruit, a hint of herbs and a crisp finish. It would be perfect with a zesty seafood salad.