(Attempting to get back on track posting more regularly. This month is this Pinot Grigio with Risotto Alla Millanese and a Petit Verdot with Sherry Mac & Cheese…both sound amazingly delicious and Risotto will be a new thing to try for us so looking forward to it!)
The wine of the month is the svelte and lovely Pinot Grigio which pleasantly displays a delicious array of refreshing notes.
The Pinot Gris (Grigio) grape is a direct descendant of the noble Pinot Noir grape. Pinot Gris vines produce reddish, copper colored berries that are vinified as a white wine.
The history of the Pinot Gris vine has plantings all over the world from Germany, Hungary, Italy (known as Pinot Grigio), France, America and even the Soviet Union. Its origin derives from the Burgundy region of France, but in 1375 Emperor Charles IV took Pinot Gris cuttings to Hungary where it was widely grown. In 1568, a colonel in the Imperial army supposedly brought back the vine to his properties in Alsace, where it grew in popularity.
The Pinot Gris grape produces soft, yet rich and spicy wines with a round mouth feel. While Alsace is world known for their Pinot Gris, the American west coast creates very similar and distinctively gorgeous Pinot.
The grapes for the 2010 vintage of Lynfred’s Pinot Grigio came from vineyards in Lodi, California. Lodi region growers combine the best of tradition with the most modern advances of science and technology. It leads the industry in sustainable viticultural practices, preserving the land for generations to come.
Depending upon ripeness at harvest and vinification technique, Pinot Grigio can be tangy and light, or quite rich, round and full bodied. In typical Lynfred style, winemaker Andres Basso chose to accentuate the best of both types. While maintaining the bright, zesty characteristics and a light to medium body, Andres worked with particularly ripe grapes in order to draw out exceptionally rich aromas and flavors.
Aroma: Deliciously bright aromas of citrus and summer herbs.
Palate: This light bodied Pinot Grigio has pretty flavors of lemon zest, flowers and pineapple sorbet!
Foods: A perfect summer wine; would be delicious with freshly steamed green beans, corn on the cob, quinoa or couscous salads, mixed greens and scallops.
