Impronta del Fondatore Pinot Grigio
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2023
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh seafood dishes, herb-infused spring risottos, and light poultry preparations.
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted as a tribute to Count Gaetano Marzotto, the visionary founder of Santa Margherita who revolutionized Italian white wine in 1961 by vinifying Pinot Grigio off the skins, the Impronta del Fondatore (The Founder's Footprint) represents the pinnacle of the estate's alpine winemaking heritage. Sourced from selected high-altitude vineyards in the Alto Adige region, the vines thrive on steep, sun-drenched slopes characterized by dramatic diurnal temperature swings and mineral-rich, gravelly soils. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by a period of aging on the fine lees to impart a refined texture and complexity. The resulting wine is a sophisticated expression of the grape, balancing vibrant mountain minerality and crisp acidity with elegant aromas of ripe golden apple, white peach, and alpine wildflowers.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1935 by Count Gaetano Marzotto and named in tribute to his wife, Santa Margherita has grown into one of Italy's premier viticultural institutions. Marzotto transformed marshland and agricultural estates in eastern Veneto into a modern, integrated farming enterprise. In 1961, the house fundamentally redefined global white wine by vinifying Alto Adige Pinot Grigio entirely 'in bianco'—without must skin contact—yielding the crisp, refreshing, and clean alpine style that established a global standard. Today, under Technical Director Loris Vazzoler, Santa Margherita oversees a multi-regional estate network spanning Trentino-Alto Adige, the morainic terraces of Valdobbiadene, Lombardy, and Tuscany. Viticulture centers on certified eco-sustainability, solar-powered cellars, and biodiversity conservation certified under Biodiversity Friend protocols. Its portfolio is crowned by benchmark expressions, including the Valdadige Pinot Grigio, the single-vineyard 'Impronta del Fondatore', Rive di Refrontolo Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, and refined regional interpretations such as Stilrose and Chianti Classico.