There are over 350 white grape varieties officially recorded in Italy, with the number exceeding 500 when including those beyond the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's list.
Pinot Grigio, cultivated in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto, is Italy's top export to the United States, making it affordable and widely available.
Despite its popularity, much of what reaches our shores tastes bland, sometimes overly sweet, and lacks the freshness of balanced acidity and fruit.
However, sampling a high-quality Pinot Grigio in northern Italy reveals a distinct difference in taste.
Author's summary: Discover the diversity of Italian white grapes.