Tenuta Fernanda Cappello Pinot Grigio, Grave, Friuli, Italy DOC 2015
$17.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
Floral and pear on the nose. On the palate, crisp green apple, citrus, hint of hazelnut. Noticeable acidity.
Fernanda Cappello had a successful career as an architect before she returned to the wine business in her father’s footsteps. She is the third generation of winemakers in her family. The winery was founded in 1970 and the first release was the 1969 vintage.
The 135 hectare estate (of which 126 ha are under vines) is located in northeast Italy in the province of Sequals of the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia just below the Alps. The vines are planted on very mineraly soil between the Cellina and Meduna Rivers in their own microclimate where the Val Tramontina wind keeps the grapes healthy. The rocky soils reflect heat and help ripen the grapes in this cool alpine climate. Alpine breezes ventilate the vineyards and dry the grapes even in wetter vintages.
Dispersed throughout these rocky soils are the Magradi Stones – some of them are the size of pumpkins. These stones reflect light onto the vines and absorb heat to give warmth to the vines which help the ripening of the grapes in this cool climate.
The winery produces a variety of wines: Whites: Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Reds: Refosco, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
The cellars of the Fernanda Cappello estate incorporate modern technology, temperature-controlled steel barrels, machines for processing the grapes and treating the wine, sophisticated and advanced instruments to check that every phase of the wine-making process happens in a precise and natural way. There are also wooden and oak barrels which bring out the flavors and the bouquet during the ageing process.
