For more than 20 years, we've been buying Pinot Gris grapes from our neighbors at Valley Foothills Vineyard. The Ridge Block is always the first to be harvested and usually finds its way into Navarro's lush Pinot Gris. It's sheltered from the wind, with thin soils, so the grapes ripen early. The second field, the New Block, is situated by a creek bed with deeper soil and the grapes are harvested a week later with more acidity and less sugar, ideal for a crisp Pinot Grigio-styled wine.
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Alfredo removing spent lees from an oval. We age Pinot Grigio on spent yeasts which autolyze and add a savory quality to the wine.
Ulisses, inside an oval, cleaning a cooling panel. We ferment and age Pinot Grigio in these traditionally shaped casks ![[below]](/images/buttons/arrow_down.gif)
We picked the Ridge Block on September 5, 2024, then came back a week later and were surprised to find the Grigio grapes in the New Block nearly as ripe as the Gris lot. This made the 2024 Pinot Grigio vintage a bit more medium-bodied than usual. It has lovely citrus blossom aromas and flavors of poached pear and lemon. Bone-dry and full of acidity, it's the perfect match for shrimp scampi or chicken piccata.
Gold Medal winner.
