Fabulas 'Foeminae' Pinot Grigio Ramato Terre di Chieti IGT

Fabulas 'Foeminae' Pinot Grigio Ramato Terre di Chieti IGT is a copper-skinned expression of Pinot Grigio from Abruzzo's Chieti province, produced through extended skin contact that transforms the typically pale grape into a ramato-style wine with structural depth. The Terre di Chieti IGT designation indicates fruit sourced from hillside vineyards in central Italy's Adriatic-facing terroir, where the maceration technique draws both color and phenolic weight from the pink-tinged skins of Pinot Grigio grapes. This approach to the varietal has Friulian roots but finds distinct expression in Abruzzo's warmer maritime climate, yielding a wine that bridges white and orange categories with copper hues and textural presence rarely associated with Pinot Grigio in its more common stainless-steel iterations. Fabulas sources fruit from calcareous clay soils in the Chieti hills, where diurnal temperature shifts preserve acidity even as the grapes achieve phenolic ripeness suited to skin-contact winemaking. The extended maceration period extracts tannin and aromatics alongside the characteristic copper color, a technique that requires precise timing to avoid excessive bitterness. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts, and the wine sees no oak, allowing the varietal's floral and stone-fruit character to remain intact while the skins contribute a savory backbone. The result is a ramato that honors traditional northeastern Italian methods while expressing Abruzzo's particular combination of altitude, limestone, and coastal influence. The wine opens with yellow peach, white flower, and a hint of dried apricot, the nose more layered than conventional Pinot Grigio due to skin extraction. On the palate it delivers fresh acidity balanced by a tactile grip, the tannin present but fine-grained, with flavors of pear skin, chamomile, and a saline finish that reflects proximity to the Adriatic. It pairs seamlessly with salt cod, roast chicken, or delicate pasta dishes dressed in olive oil and garlic, the wine's structure matching the richness of the protein without overwhelming subtler preparations. Serve lightly chilled to preserve the tension between fruit and phenolic bite. Fabulas 'Foeminae' Ramato is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.