Love Chardonnay? Then you will definitely love our Junior! Lucky for you, we have officially launched a new vintage. The newly released 2019 Ramato Original Pinot Grigio, nicknamed ‘Junior’ by SYLTBAR due to its smaller sized bottle packaging, is here and we know you are just going to love it.

 What is a Ramato Wine? 

Ramato is a style of wine that originated in the northeastern province of Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the SYLTBAR wine producer’s vineyard is located. Ramato actually means auburn or copper in Italian, which is the color family of which you will find varying shades of in this style of wine.

Do not make the mistake of confusing Ramato wine with rosé or orange wines — these are produced much differently. Rosé and orange wines might sometimes look similar, but they are not made from the same grapes or with the same process at all. Rosé wine can be made from any kind of black or red grapes, or a combination of red and white grapes that have been blended together. Orange wines are made from any white grapes. Ramato wines are specifically made from Pinot Grigio grapes.

A Ramato style wine is made by taking Pinot Grigio grapes and allowing them to macerate with its own skins for at least one night. The final color depends on the length of the maceration time — it can be anywhere from a semi-pale pink to a dark orange (basically auburn or copper). SYLTBAR Ramato is produced by leaving the grapes to macerate with their skins for one night, turning the juices in a dark apricot-like shade. This was the standard Pinot Grigio wine production process up until the end of the 1970’s when a well known mass-produced brand Santa Margherita changed the way wine consumers experienced their Pinot Grigio.

Although Ramato wine is made from Pinot Grigio grapes, its aromas and flavors are very different from the light, fresh Pinot Grigio style of wine that many are familiar with today — the very tasting notes that led SYLTBAR to nickname the Pinot Grigio ‘White Linen’. Instead, Ramato wines have much more character and depth. Well known for having notes of dried fruits on the palate, baking spice, tropical fruits and herbaceousness on the nose. SYLTBAR Ramato offers notes of green pear, pomegranate, honeysuckle and pungent oily florals. No, these descriptors do not sound anything like a Pinot Grigio… But a chardonnay? Ah, yes.

Love Chardonnay Wine? Try All Natural Ramato

Depending on which part of the world the Chardonnay grapes are grown, this type of wine can have a wide range in flavors, smells, and even color. But the Chardonnay that the average wine drinker is familiar with is typically a wine with a lot of oomph to it. It’s bold, it’s buttery, and it’s usually much darker than a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Just like the SYLTBAR Ramato, Chardonnay has a very distinctive taste and appeals to a certain palate. The primary tasting notes range from apple and pear to papaya and pineapple, followed by nuances of vanilla and baking spices. Sound familiar? Many of these flavors and aromas are in line with our Ramato wine.

SYLBAR Ramato and Chardonnay are both best served at around 50-54 °F. We suggest pairing Ramato with charcuterie like prosciutto and salami, shellfish, pasta and white meat dishes. Chardonnay also pairs well with shellfish, as well as light, flakey fish, goat cheese, white meat and sometimes darker game meat. 

Sugar in Chardonnay 

Now let’s compare the nutritional differences between SYLTBAR Ramato Original Pinot Grigio and a typical Chardonnay. SYLBAR Ramato has 98 calories per 6 ounce glass, while Chardonnay is around 160 calories per 6 ounce glass. That is a huge difference! This has a lot to do with the pure, natural production of SYLTBAR wines and how there is absolutely no chemicals or sweeteners added to the wine during its production. A serving (which we measure at 6 ounces) of SYLTBAR Ramato only has .55 grams of sugar, while a glass of Chardonnay usually has around 1.4 gram. It might not sound like a lot in general, but when you put it in perspective, that is more than double the amount of sugar in a glass of SYLTBAR Ramato!

For all of the Chardonnay lovers out there, maybe now is the time for you to switch things up and try something new. Our SYLTBAR Ramato will not take your taste buds on a ride — a lower calorie, lower sugar, 100% naturally produced wine kind of ride! Shop for 2019 SYLTBAR Ramato Original Pinot Grigio ‘Junior’ exclusively at syltbar.com.