October 2026 – a Castel story by Ivana Capraro
Pinot Gris ‘vom Kalk’ 2023 – Niedrist Winery
Every month, we showcase a wine from our cellar, recommended by our sommelière, Ivana Capraro, for that particular month.
October 2026
From the limestone of Eppan Berg … a new voice.
The wine
Pinot Gris ‘from the limestone’ 2023
“A grape variety that is all too often regarded as simple.”
Niedrist’s 2023 Pinot Gris ‘vom Kalk’ is produced from an old vineyard in Eppan Berg and reflects Maria Niedrist’s perspective on a grape variety that is all too often regarded as unremarkable. Here, at an altitude of around 550 metres above sea level, the Niedrist family tends a small Pinot Grigio vineyard with vines around sixty years old – the view stretches across the Adige Valley as far as the Schlern.
“I love this place and its vastness very much, and I’m delighted that the world can get to know it through our wine.” – Maria Niedrist
The name takes you straight to what lies beneath the vines: limestone. At the foot of the Mendel Ridge, the old vines are rooted in gravelly, limestone-rich soils that ensure a constant supply of water – the foundation for the depth that characterises this wine.
‘Vom Kalk’ was not born out of a desire simply to add another label to the range, but out of a desire to understand just how far Pinot Grigio can go when given the right attention.
“Pinot Grigio is often regarded as a very simple and one-dimensional grape variety, but it has long been clear to us that, as an ancient Burgundian variety, it has much greater potential,” explains Maria.
So it’s not about reinventing Pinot Grigio, but about giving it the space it needs to reveal something that normally remains hidden.
With the 2023 harvest, the decision was made: a small quantity of the grapes was set aside from the rest of the production and went its own way. This is how the first Pinot Gris ‘from the limestone’ came into being – a wine that is deliberately allowed to mature before being released.
The colour had to be just right, too: Maria envisaged a grey-blue, almost a light ‘Grigio Blu’, inspired by the shutters and balcony railings in Burgundy – and by the memory of the blue of the very first Vespa. And so the bottle features that grey-blue owl, which has become the face of the new wine.
“An old vineyard that had not yet finished telling the story of what it could become.” – Ivana Capraro
Grape variety:
100% Pinot Grigio
Colour:
An intense golden yellow, reminiscent of the maturity of the old vines and the long ageing process in wood, concrete and the bottle
On the nose:
Yellow apple, white peach and apricot, accompanied by floral and citrus notes as well as a subtle mineral element. As the wine is exposed to air, nuances of dried fruit, almonds, sweet spices and light toasted aromas emerge.
On the palate:
Broad and structured, yet underpinned by a precise freshness and a deep salinity. The texture is creamy, with the fruit returning ripe and juicy.
Salute!
Fancy giving it a go?
Enjoy Castel wines at home
You’ll also find Niedrist’s 2023 Pinot Gris ‘vom Kalk’ in our wine shop, where we select wines that truly reflect their terroir. You’re welcome to take this and other wines home at our wine shop prices – I look forward to seeing you.
Yours, Ivana Capraro
© Image sources: Niedrist Winery
