The Casa Girelli Canaletto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie is made from Pinot Grigio grapes grown in the heart of the Italian Alps in the pebbly “diluvial” soils of Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol). Those soils were formed as the glaciers melted and created the area’s stunning Adige river valley.
These soils are excellent for the production of fresh whites with rich aromas and flavors for two main reasons.
The first reason is that they do not easily retain water. As a result, the vines have to struggle to find the water table. This “hydric” stress gives the plants more “vigor,” as we say in winespeak, and that makes them produce fruit with richer aromas and flavors.
The second reason is that these soils are nutrient poor. And this also stresses the plants, giving them more vigor.
But the other thing that makes the Casa Girelli Canaletto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie so compelling is the fact that the grapes used to make this wine are grown at relatively high altitudes in the heart of the Dolomite mountains.
The elevation makes for what we call “diurnal shifts” in winespeak. In other words, the temperatures shift from day to night, with cooler temperatures at night during the summer despite the warm temperatures during the day.
This is extremely important for the production of fresh-styled white wines like the Casa Girelli Canaletto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie. It helps to extend the growing period, thus allowing the grapes to ripen fully without the excessive sugar levels that you find in warmer climates. Thanks to the diurnal shifts, the wine is always very fresh and its natural fruit aromas and flavors are always balanced and delicious on the palate.
Lastly, the cool air currents that arrive from higher elevations to the north are ideal for keeping the bunches well ventilated and free from rot and mildew. Those cool winds also help to slow the ripening period, thus helping to foster the freshness and balance that makes this wine so special.
The Casa Girelli Canaletto Pinot Grigio delle Venezie is named after the Venetian painter Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768), better known as “Canaletto,” a leading artist in the historic “Venetian school,” renowned for its members’ paintings of beautiful Venice and its enchanting canals.
There couldn’t be a more perfect wine to pair with the famous “cicchetti” or “finger foods” served in the city’s legendary wine bars known as “bacari.”
