Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/471637
62 / the tasting panel / march 2015 COVER STORY S peaking with Giovanni Bonmartini- Fini, proprietor of Italy's Barone Fini wines, one is immedi- ately aware that pro- ducing Pinot Grigio is his true passion. "At Barone Fini, it's our mission to showcase Italy's most important white grape and harness Pinot Grigio's potential to make one of the world's best, most versatile, and food-friendly white wines," he says. Barone Fini is one of the fastest- growing Italian wine brands in the United States. Unlike many Pinot Grigio wines, the brand has a rich history dating back to 1497 when two noble Venetian families, Bonmartini and Fini, first owned the vineyards and made wine for five centuries. It's no surprise that Giovanni, a direct decedent, continues the legacy and now oversees production of the Barone Fini brand, which focuses on classified DOC Pinot Grigio made from grapes grown in select vine- yards in Alto-Adige and Valdadige. Rebuilding Perception "When I took over the company in 1997 after my uncle passed away, Pinot Grigio as a category had become dominated by low quality, mass-produced wines who grew their grapes in the wrong areas," says Bonmartini-Fini. "Our family, along with a few other like-minded produc- ers, had seen this trend and set out to make Pinot Grigio of outstanding quality grown in Alto-Adige and Valdadige," he adds. "My current goal is no different." Giovanni has gone to great lengths to ensure that Barone Fini offers a Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) Pinot Grigio, which is the highest Italian classifica- tion that can be given to this wine. The wines are sourced from Alto- Adige and Valdadige, two adjacent regions where cool climate, steep hill- sides and narrow valleys are ideal for growing Italy's best Pinot Grigio. The wine is produced at an ultra-modern winery in Trentino in accordance with the highest standards. "While the winery itself is not Barone Fini's, we have our own dedi- cated enologist, and control every aspect of our wines' production, from vine to bottle." Enologist Fabio Toscana makes sure the grapes are grown and picked according to strict specifica- tions and winemaking is done with minimal human intervention in order Barone Fini Pinot Grigio has a delicate taste profile and is incredibly versatile with food.