Vino Intrepido 'Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' Pinot Grigio

Though there is no shortage of pinot grigio produced in Italy, there are a few regions where they take this grape seriously and make some incredible wines from it. My goal was to make something a bit more than your average pinot grigio white wine by sourcing from the ideal region in Victoria. The King Valley is the unofficial home of Pinot Grigio in Australia thanks in part to the region's warm days and cool nights, and also in part to the population of Italian migrants who settled there. In 2024 I was fortunate to be able to purchase grapes from the Cavedon Vineyard, one of the first in the region to plant the variety. Fruit was harvested and immediately pressed before being transported as juice. After settling juice was racked to 30% three-year-old puncheons and 70% stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation was halted once fermented, and the wine aged on lees for a further three months. The wine was blended and then bottled in October 2024. When thinking about what I should call this addition to the Vino Intrepido range and the variety being referred to as grey, I started thinking about grey animals. The wolf was one of the first that came to mind – majestic yet dangerous – and the term ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ stood out for me, as this pinot grigio is probably not what you’d expect, packing more punch than you might be accustomed to.