2023 Scarbolo Il Ramato Pinot Grigio

The 2023 Scarbolo Il Ramato Pinot Grigio is a copper-toned expression of Friuli's traditional ramato style, a skin-contact method that separates the Pinot Grigio grape from its ubiquitous pale counterparts. Where most Pinot Grigio is pressed immediately off the skins to preserve a neutral profile, this bottle ferments on the skins for extended contact, extracting color, tannin, and textural weight. The result is a wine that occupies the space between white and orange, with the crisp fruit of Friuli and the grip of a more structured style. Scarbolo is a family estate in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the northeastern Italian region wedged between the Adriatic and the Julian Alps, where ramato has been the local interpretation of Pinot Grigio for centuries. The soils here are a mix of marl and clay, and the cool influence of the mountains preserves acidity even as grapes reach full ripeness. The Scarbolo family presses the grapes after a period of skin maceration, allowing the phenolic compounds to impart their signature amber hue and tannic backbone. The wine sees no oak, so the focus remains on fruit and structure rather than wood-driven richness. On the palate, the 2023 vintage shows fresh strawberries and citrus—stone fruit riding a current of orange peel and a faint salinity that hints at the Adriatic proximity. The tannins are present but fine, giving the wine a textural grip that makes it more food-versatile than standard Pinot Grigio. Pour it alongside grilled prawns, roasted chicken with herbs, or a charcuterie board heavy on prosciutto and aged cheese. It drinks well chilled but not ice-cold; fifteen minutes out of the fridge opens up the aromatics and softens the copper edge. Available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.