Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio

Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio is a 750ml Veneto white wine blending 85% Pinot Grigio with 15% semi-dried Verduzzo grapes at 13.0% ABV. Awarded 90 points by James Suckling in June 2023, this expression distinguishes itself from conventional Pinot Grigio through Masi Agricola's signature appassimento technique applied to the Verduzzo component, adding uncommon structure and aromatic complexity to the blend.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.0%  |  Origin: Veneto, Italy  |  White Blend (Pinot Grigio–Verduzzo)  |  Producer: Masi Agricola

Production & Heritage

Masi Agricola is one of the Veneto's most recognized family wine estates, renowned for pioneering and refining appassimento — the traditional grape-drying method most associated with Amarone della Valpolicella. For the Masianco, the winemaking team applies a brief period of this same drying process to the Verduzzo grapes before blending them with fresh Pinot Grigio. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and the finished wine rests on fine lees for approximately three months, building texture and roundness while preserving acidity. The result is a white wine with notably more body and depth than a typical single-varietal Italian Pinot Grigio.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with golden-hued citrus fruit and white flowers, moving into layers of light honey and a subtle hint of tropical fruit. There is an inviting ripeness that signals the Verduzzo's appassimento contribution without veering into heaviness.

Taste: The palate entry is crisp and bright with lemon zest and green apple. At mid-palate, peach and apricot fruitiness emerge alongside a gentle minerality, while the lees aging lends a rounded, slightly creamy texture. The Verduzzo's concentrated character adds a spicy undertone and structural backbone that keeps the wine engaging.

Finish: Medium in length with a refreshing acidity that carries notes of tangerine peel and a whisper of honey. The finish stays balanced, clean, and dry with no residual sweetness.

How to Drink Masianco

Serve chilled to around 10–12°C (50–54°F). The wine's combination of crispness and fuller body makes it rewarding on its own as an aperitif but equally versatile with food. A Spritz variation works well, as the wine's acidity and fruit weight hold up against the bitterness of Aperol or Select. In a White Sangria, Masianco's peach and citrus profile provides a natural fruit-forward base that needs less added sugar. It also shines in a classic Hugo Spritz, where its floral aromatics complement elderflower liqueur beautifully.

Best For

• Introducing a Pinot Grigio drinker to wines with more complexity and texture
• Summer dinner parties where a single white needs to pair across multiple courses
• Gifting to someone who appreciates Italian winemaking traditions like appassimento
• Seafood-centric meals where you want more body than a standard Pinot Grigio provides

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Masianco taste like? Masianco leads with bright citrus and green apple before revealing riper peach, apricot, and light honey notes from the semi-dried Verduzzo grapes. It finishes crisp and dry with a medium body that sits between a lean Pinot Grigio and a richer Chardonnay.

How does Masianco compare to Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio? Santa Margherita is a 100% Pinot Grigio with a lighter, more mineral-driven profile, while Masianco blends in 15% appassimento-dried Verduzzo, giving it noticeably more body, aromatic complexity, and a subtle honeyed dimension. Both hail from the Veneto, but Masianco's partial grape-drying technique sets it apart structurally.

Is Masianco good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balance of bright acidity, fruit weight, and lees-aged texture makes it a satisfying aperitif wine that holds interest without food. Serve it well chilled for the best experience.

Where is Masianco made? Masianco is produced by Masi Agricola in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. The estate is based in the Valpolicella zone and is widely recognized as a leading practitioner of the appassimento grape-drying method.

What foods pair well with Masianco? Grilled branzino or sea bass, as the wine's acidity cuts through the fish's richness. Risotto with asparagus, where the wine's citrus and mineral notes complement the dish's earthiness. Light pasta dishes with pesto or lemon cream sauce. Soft cheeses like burrata or fresh mozzarella with stone fruit. Sushi and sashimi, particularly yellowtail or scallop, where Masianco's body and acidity provide a balanced counterpoint.

What sizes does Masianco come in? Masi Masianco is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Masianco worth the price? Masianco positions as a mid-range Italian white wine that delivers more complexity than most bottles at its tier, largely due to the appassimento step and lees aging. Its 90-point James Suckling score reinforces that it over-delivers relative to comparably priced Pinot Grigios.

Why Masianco?

What separates Masianco from the crowded Italian Pinot Grigio field is the deliberate application of appassimento — a technique Masi has mastered across decades of Amarone production — to the Verduzzo portion of the blend. This adds a layer of aromatic depth and palate weight that pure Pinot Grigio bottlings rarely achieve. The 90-point James Suckling rating confirms the wine punches above its weight class, delivering balance, spice, and ripe fruit in a medium-bodied frame. For anyone looking to move beyond one-dimensional white wines without jumping to an entirely different grape or price bracket, Masianco represents a genuinely distinctive option rooted in serious Veneto winemaking tradition.