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96 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 { somm journal seminar series } ITALY KETTMEIR 2015 Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige (SRP $22) Kettmeir is a boutique winery in the Alto Adige, a northern Italian region that borders the Alps, with picturesque narrow valleys and elevations as high as 3,600 feet. Nestled in the north near Austria, Alto Adige's pri - mary language is German, hence the not-so- Italian-sounding name Kettmeir. Founded by Giuseppe Kettmeir in 1919, the winery remains true to local traditions with modern winemaking technology keep - ing it on the edge as one of the leading producers in the Alto Adige. The winery overlooks Lake Cardaro which crosses the river Adige. The well- drained soil is deep and sandy on the val - ley floor and lower slopes. The middle and upper slopes are primarily limestone with a higher content of rock and clay. Large diurnal swings in day and night temperature also add to the wine's freshness. Although Kettmeir also produces luscious Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Bianco, the region is best known for Pinot Grigio—and here in the glacial valleys, the grape shines. This vintage shows purity, precision and delicacy, and the soil in the northern part of the valley is composed of limestone that sends off generous nectar stone fruit notes in the wine. "We find wonderful acidity and sapidity in the Pinot Grigio," offers Vittorio Marzotto, Business Development Director for importer Santa Margherita USA. Sapidity refers to the wine's savory sensations versus a salinity or minerality fac - tor. "Sapidity comes from the DNA of the grape," said Marzotto. "It's the mouth- watering feeling, the sensations you get on the palate," he added. The Kettmeir 2015 Pinot Grigio has outstanding aromatics of pears and apples, with a savory mid-palate along with lemon juice-on-stone and tropical pineapple components that give an illusion of sweetness (the wine actually only possesses 1.9 grams of sugar). SANTA MARGHERITA USA Vittorio Marzotto is Business Development Director for Santa Margherita USA, represent- ing Kettmeir and Lamole di Lamole.