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ABOUT THE WINERY

As one of the iconic wine producers of Alto Adige, Alois Lageder and his family have developed very close relationships with many of the other winegrowers of the province and beyond. The Riff project is both an auxiliary brand for Lageder and an outlet for the grapes of an extended network of small, quality-driven farmers outside Alto Adige. The Riff Pinot Grigio is an inexpensive but well-made négociant wine that is sourced, blended, bottled, and marketed by the acclaimed Alois Lageder winery. 

The name comes from the German word for reef, reflecting the ancient oceanic origins of the Dolomite Alps. Though now soaring thousands of feet above the plains of the Po River Valley to the south, the Alps were once part of the seabed, where the remains of untold sea creatures slowly hardened into limestone. Millions of years ago, tectonic forces began to push the ocean floor upward to become the Alps of today. The decaying limestone of that prehistoric “reef” is now a major factor in the vineyard soil of northern Italy. 

Begun in the mid-1990s, the goal of the Riff project is to produce premium quality wines with distinctive character and style, unquestionable quality, and extraordinary market value. The Alois Lageder winemaking team carefully selects the wines on-site for their body, texture, elegant aromatics, and crisp acidity. They are matured on their lees in stainless steel tanks, then blended and bottled at Lageder’s Löwengang winemaking facilities in Magrè, Alto Adige. The combination of grapes from numerous different vineyards in various locations gives the wines complexity and depth of flavor. The wine is made with all organic grapes.


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WINERY LOCATION: Alois Lageder Löwengang winery, Magrè, Alto Adige
REGION: Delle Venezie DOC
VINEYARD LAND: 123 acres (50 ha) contracted
FARMING PRACTICES: Organic
GRAPE VARIETIES: Pinot Grigio
WINE STYLES: Dry white
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 1,100,000 bottles (800,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1997
OWNER(S): The Lageder Family
WINEMAKER(S): Jo Pfisterer and Paola Tenaglia

WINES

RIFF PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE DOC

The grapes for Riff Pinot Grigio come from carefully selected organic vineyard sites in the Veneto region – at the foot of the Alps – where the Mediterranean-Alpine climate greatly influences its character. Sustainable agriculture is very important to the Alois Lageder winery and its partner grower, and with the 2021 vintage of Riff Pinot Grigio was made with certified organic grapes. The name RIFF comes from the German word for reef, reflecting the ancient oceanic origins of the Dolomites. Where the rugged Northern Italian Alps lie today, there was once, 220 million years ago, an ocean filled with colorful coral reefs. Today, the rock layers are still full of hidden fossils, such as crabs, mussels, and the nautilus, telling of a time gone by. This is reflected on the label with the use of the Fibonacci golden spiral. 

 

LOCATION


WINERY:
Alois Lageder Löwengang winery, Magrè, Alto Adige

VINEYARD:
Selected from growers in Veneto and Trentino–Alto Adige

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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NOVEMBER 2020
Riff Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2019

The 2019 Pinot Grigio Riff from Alois Lageder is remarkably fresh and floral, with notes of ripe apple and pear. It’s a pure and high-energy effort that impresses through salty minerals offsetting white orchard fruits with a subtle tart twang.

OCTOBER 2020
Riff Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2019

6 of the Best White Wines for Winter Under $20

I am including this wine because it’s tough out there. There are so many options on the market, and it’s not easy to find one that really hits. This one hits. It has the crisp, refreshing acidity we all love in this style of wine, but there is a unique balance between that and the fruit. There’s a slight grip on the palate that is quenching.

91
FEBRUARY 2021
Riff Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2019

THE 20 BEST CHEAP WINES UNDER $20 FOR 2021

This is the Pinot Grigio you are looking for. It’s under screw cap, it has a fun label looking dope in a beach bag and it’s under 10 bucks. Oh, and it’s really good! This bottle really defines how Pinot Grigio can still be expressive and balanced, even at a high production rate. It has vibrant acidity and smells like sliced apples. 

For a cheap Pinot Grigio you can’t go wrong here. Ready to be the bottle you pop for whatever you have going on. It is crisp with good, ripe fruit. It’s a great bottle to buy a case of in the name of spontaneity.

91
NOVEMBER 2020
Riff Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2019

The 50 Best Wines of 2020

This is a prime candidate for your new go-to, under - $20 Pinot Grigio. With its screw-cap bottle, ripe fruit aromas, and zippy flavor, this bottle is easy to drink and can fit almost any occasion — and would be an ideal case-buy. #44 of 50

89
JULY 2022
Riff Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2021

2022's 11 Best Pinot Grigio Under $25 

The fruit of this wine comes from the Dolomites, part of the ancient Alps in northern Italy. They're so ancient that these mountains were once under the sea. This means that to this day, fossils are often found in vineyards as farmers tend to the vines. This, along with the high elevation and sun, results in vibrant, crisp wines, especially white wines like this. This wine is a great way to enjoy this region.Building upon natural acidity with crisp, vibrant flavors, this is a great showcasing of mountain fruit and an ideal way to explore the Veneto region. It is easy and uncomplicated while being extremely balanced with bracing acidity and good medium fruit to complement a sunny day with good friends.