Orange wines 201: Italian Ramato

Plus, the deep dive on Pinot Grigio that no one asked for!

Since we did an intro to orange wines last week (check it out here if you missed it!), I think we are ready for our intermediate lesson on a specific style of skin-contact wine, Ramato. Ramato is a style of wine originally made in northeastern Italian region of Fruili-Venezia Giulia using Pinot Grigio grapes. ‘Ramato' means coppered in Italian — a reference to the beautiful, copper-hued color of the wine.

First, a little background on Pinot Grigio

I know, I know, Pinot Grigio, so basic 🥱…..but before I lose you, there’s more to this grape than you may think! When you picture Pinot Grigio, you are probably thinking of a crisp, dry, and almost clear wine. And you wouldn’t be wrong. Pinot Grigio can actually be one of the more difficult wines to pinpoint in a blind tasting because it doesn’t have an obvious identifier. Sommeliers often identify Pinot Grigio by the qualities it does not have, instead of looking for any unique qualities.

But Pinot Grigio isn’t the classic the white grape you might imagine. It’s actually a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape and can take on a distinctive array of colors; anything from orange-pink to pale, dusty purple. For all you Duolingo fans, you may recognize the words ‘gris’, ’grigio’, or ‘grau’ (French, Italian, and German for "gray"), a reference to the dusty, light-gray sheen the grapes often take on. This unique hue is what sets Ramato wines apart from other orange or rosé wines.

Up until the 1960’s Pinot Grigio was always made with some amount of skin contact. With the arrival of more advanced production methods, like stainless steel fermentation and refrigeration, Santa Margherita began producing Pinot Grigio without skin contact to create a clear, bright wine. This new style of Pinot Grigio was first imported to the US in 1979 and was an immediate hit.

Luckily, many winemakers in northern Italy continued to produce wines in this local style, preserving the tradition of Ramato wines. More recently, we have seen a resurgence and a spread of this style in other regions, making Ramato easier to find.

The OG Pinot Grigio

What’s the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris?

Actually not much! They are the exact same grape but you may notice some differences in the wines depending on where they were grown. Italian Pinot Grigio is typically completely dry with brilliant acidity with a bitter almond note. French Pinot Gris may express faint honey notes. And American Pinot Grigio often has more exaggerated fruit flavors and with less acidity than its European counterparts.

What makes Ramato wines unique?

Ramato wines are unique in they exclusively use Pinot Grigio/Gris grapes and made in a style that originated in Friuli, Italy. That said, they are quite similar to the lighter styles of orange wine that are so popular today. You can find wines labeled as “Ramato” from around the world.

These wines combine the refreshing qualities of a white or rosé but with the texture, richness, and added tannins of a red wine. They often give off notes of spices and herbs, and dried and tropical fruits. They are tannic with a structured balance and a dry, savory edge. This type of wine is incredibly food friendly, and pairs beautifully with all kinds of meat, including white meat, prosciutto and salami, as well as shellfish, pasta, and many Asian flavors.

What to look for:

I’ll admit, these styles can be a bit trickier to find. Here are a few to look out for but really just keep your eyes peeled for anything labeled “Ramato”!

1. Terah Wine Co, Ramato
   Bassi Vineyard, San Luis Obispo, CA

2. Channing Daughters, "Ramato"
   Hamptons, Long Island, NY

3. Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato
   Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

4. Colston Biblio, Tomato Ramato
   Willamette Valley, OR