It's great to find Pinot Grigio that has real flavour and freshness - too often they are dilute and boring. Not here! Fiegl have been making wine for over 200 years, and seem to have a pretty good idea of what they're doing. Their vineyard is planted mostly on clay, which adds density, and the proximity to the sea really helps to maintain the acidity in the wine...so there's lots going on! This is filled with flavours of tropical melon, kiwifruit and honeysuckle. There's a slight creaminess on the middle part of the palate, with a really fresh, spritely finish. Round, tangy and full of flavour, this is great stuff.

Italian wines are rich in history and fascinating features, and none more so than those on the borders of the country, where different cultures come together and share their wine styles and heritage. At Fiegl Vineyards, we find a perfect example of this richness and unique tradition. Situated in the Gorizia Hills, which run along the border between Italy and Slovenia, Fiegl is a family winery which has a history which stretches back to the mid 18th century. As such, they know what they do, and they do it very well indeed. Today, the traditions and practices of the winery are kept alive by the latest generation of winemakers to work at Fiegl - brothers Alessio and Giuseppe, who bring together an academic knowledge of wine with a passion and reverence for grapes in their unique and beautiful produce. They consider the land they work with as ‘challenging’ - the soil is unforgiving, but packed full of mineral features which help to give their wines the characteristics for which they have become famous. The gentle slopes of the hills around the village of Oslavia provide the drainage and exposure to sunshine the grapes need to reach full maturity, while the gentle breezes coming from the glittering Adriatic sea help to cool the vines and extend the ripening period. The result - a beautiful array of red and white grapes, growing and thriving in one of Italy’s most precious regions, and wines which demonstrate just what it is that makes this part of the world so special.