Impressed by Italian Pinot Grigio
On the first warm-ish night in March, an unusually small group of three wine tasters headed out to Strada Mia for a sampling of Pinot Grigio. Preferring a comfortable high top in the bar area, we relied on our patient and knowledgeable server to help us choose wines and some delicious appetizers. We decided to sample two Italian Pinot Grigios; both of which we enjoyed very much.
As you may remember from our July article, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio come from the same grape grown in different styles. According to Australian wine critic Huan Hooke, “the short explanation of their difference is that gris is based on the French Alsace style, riper and richer, with more alcohol and sometimes a little sweetness; grigio is based on the Italian model, lighter and simpler with less alcohol.” Huon Hooke, “Pinot Gris is Now the Hot New Wine,” The Sydney Morning Herald, June, 2016.
Although Pinot Grigio often gets a bad rap for being a bit boring, the variety is also incredibly popular because it is a light affordable white wine that pairs well with a range of foods including fresh cheeses like feta, goat, and mozzarella, pasta dishes, chicken, fish, and more. One expert explains, “[i]n a world where grape-variety reputations seem to be so set in stone among the wine-drinking public, Pinot Gris has a notable ability to surprise and charm. Whether it’s a cellar-worthy bottle of Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris [France], a shimmering, profoundly delicious single-vineyard Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige [Italy], or an inexpensive, uncomplicated bottle from a household-name brand, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are produced in a notable range of styles.” Brian Freedman, “Pinot Grigio Can Be a Surprisingly Exciting White Wine,” Food & Wine Magazine, August, 2024.
Describing Pinot Grigio (or Gris) can be difficult but Stacy Slinkard from The Spruce Eats writes: “Pinot Grigio is a dry, light-bodied wine with aromas of lemon-lime, pear, and stone fruit like peach and apricot. You may also notice scents of almond, baking spices, or honeysuckle. Flavors can range from melon to green apple, and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit. Often, there is honey, raw almond, or mineral aspects as well. Medium to high acidity keeps the refreshing wine from being too sweet. Pinot Grigio often has a very smooth and almost silk-like texture that leaves an impression on the palate.” Stacy Slinkard, “What is Pinot Grigio Wine?” The Spruce Eats, September, 2022. Sounds delicious, right?
Let’s turn to our tasting of two delicious Italian Pinot Grigios. To recap our novice approach to tasting: none of us is a wine expert but we know what we like and are happy to share our unbiased opinion with you. To keep things consistent, we developed our own unique rating system: pass, glass, bottle, case; you can interpret it as 1, 2, 3, and 4 stars.
Barone FINI (Valdadige, Italy)
We all enjoyed this bottle. Kathy described the wine as fresh, crisp and light with a pop of flavor and a smooth finish and Kate appreciated the good, crisp flavor. While Carolyn didn’t like this one quite as much as Kathy and Kate, she found the wine light-bodied and balanced with a bit of acidity from the citrus flavors.
Winemaker: Delicate floral aromas with notes of lemon delight the nose. Refreshing flavors of honeydew and ripe apples and balanced with a bright acidity and warm minerality. Mouthfeel is crisp and lingering.
Retail Cost: $11 per bottle
Rating: Buy a CASE of the Barone FINI.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy)
Although Pam could not make it to this month’s tasting, she is a big fan of the Santa Margherita and Carolyn agreed, describing the wine as clean, dry, and smooth with a bit of citrus but very little acidity. In addition, Kathy opined that the Santa Margherita has fragrant floral taste with a smooth finish and is perfect if you want to treat yourself to a delicious glass of Pinot Grigio. Kate didn’t see a big difference between the two light-bodied, crisp wines and so, for the price, preferred the FINI.
Winemaker: With its straw yellow color, clean intense aroma and dry golden apple taste, our signature Pinot Grigio is full of authentic, flavorful personality.
Retail Cost: $26 per bottle
Rating: Buy a BOTTLE of the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (unless you want to splurge and buy a case).
Cheers to all from Kathy, Kate, and Carolyn.
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