If it seems like I skipped December, it’s because I did. You may see that more often, as I begin to wind things down. For now, I have chosen Santa Margherita’s Pinot Grigio (2021) as the Wine of the Month for January. This bottle can be had at Clinton Wine & Spirits, easily in Billy’s price range. Personally, I am not a big fan of Pinot Grigio, I think it tastes mostly like “lemon flavored alcohol water” (Duane Willsey). But, many others, especially some of my female relatives, really like it. That’s why I always keep a bottle in the refrigerator. So, since it’s a popular varietal, I thought the time had come to profile it.
If you want Pinot Grigio, the only place to go (in my opinion) is northeast Italy. Specifically, the Trentino-Alto-Adige and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia wine regions. According to the Oxford Companion to Wine (OCtW), “Pinot Grigio, during the first decade of the 21st century, took over from Chardonnay as the name of the most popular white wine in the global mass market.” It is also the Italian name for the French varietal Pinot Gris. Because of it’s popularity, many other world wide producers prefer the name Pinot Grigio to the French one. These two regions produce the best Italian version of this wine, but “bulk” versions are also produced in Veneto. “These Veneto versions tend to be rather neutral and, at their best, inoffensive, the high yields diluting any true Pinot Grigio character.” (OCtW) So, be warned!
As far as tasting notes goes, both mine and theirs, this pale, straw yellow wine is crisp and tart. You will get lemon grass, pear, and guava/mango on the nose. There may also be a hint of apples, chalk, and nuts on the palate. It is a very high acid, low body, uncomplex wine. It’s generally considered a very good aperitif that goes with everything from salads to chicken or grilled fish. It also pairs well with most soft cheeses. There are some “high end” versions of Pinot Grigio from these two regions that may fall at the low end of Steve’s price range, but the vast majority are well under $30.00, as is Santa Margherita’s version. 2022s & 2023s are what you will find in the wine stores today, which is OK. It’s a drinker, not a keeper. Just be sure to keep an eye out for the Veneto “bulk” wines.
That should take care of this post. Next time, I will have another Food & Wine pairing. So, be sure to come back and see what I put together. Cheers!