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Thank you for your interest in Santa Margherita. Please review our list of Frequently Asked Questions for more information about our wines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q:
- Is it true that Santa Margherita was the first popular Pinot Grigio in the U.S.?
- A:
- Pinot Grigio was an unknown varietal in the United States in 1979 when Tony Terlato, then a young importer of Italian wines, went to Italy in search of the “next great white wine”. He believed that as Americans’ appreciation and knowledge of fine wines continued to grow, there would be demand for a complex, high–quality white wine. At a Milan hotel, Tony tasted a Pinot Grigio with a medium body, an elegant aroma that was fruity and spicy, and a crisp taste — he knew he had found his grape. He changed his travel plans and immediately drove to the small town of Portoguaro in Northern Italy’s Alto Adige region, the premier area for growing Pinot Grigio. Upon arriving, Tony sat down at a small restaurant in a local inn and ordered 18 bottles of Pinot Grigio off of the wine list. Seeing the wealth of wines at a table with only one diner, the inn’s proprietor joined him, and they tasted through the wines, testing each bottle against a variety of foods. By the conclusion of the dinner, they agreed on the best wine at the table: Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio.
- Q:
- What is the difference between a Chianti Classico and a Chianti Classico Riserva?
- A:
- Under Italian laws, Riservas must be aged for at least two years in barrels and an additional three months in bottle, giving Riserva wines softer tannins and greater complexity. Riservas also must, by law, have an alcohol content of at least 12.5%.
- Q:
- What grape varietals comprise Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva?
- A:
- The wine is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet, Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. The addition of Cabernet and Merlot leads to a more well-rounded wine that pairs with a wider array of foods.
- Q:
- What makes Prosecco made in Valdobbiadene so special?
- A:
- Valdobbiadene’s steep hillsides, morainic soil with glacial deposits and substantial temperature fluctuations creates wines with particularly complex aromatics. It is regarded as the highest–quality region for Prosecco.
- Q:
- What does the “D.O.C.G.” on the label mean?
- A:
- D.O.C.G stands for “Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita,” and it is the most stringent of three official quality assurances that can be attached to Italian wines. Wines labeled D.O.C.G. must be evaluated by an official tasting committee before they can be bottled. Valdobbiadene is the only Prosecco–producing region to achieve D.O.C.G. status, and Santa Margherita Prosecco is one of only a few D.O.C.G. Proseccos sold in the U.S. Santa Margherita’s D.O.C.G. Prosecco will also be labeled “Superiore.”