Pinot Grigio anyone?!

Pinot Grigio anyone?! 

The mere mention of this grape conjures up images of Blake’s Restaurant, Stillorgan and my first boyfriend (thats a lifetime ago by the way!) It was the only wine I recognised on the menu as a young adult and all previous experiences I’d had of it reminded me that it had very few similarities to wine itself so therefore it was the obvious choice back then!

Pinot Grigio is Italy’s biggest selling white grape and thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir grape.  It can range in style from flabby and watery to full bodied and rich as can the price. Actually there are so many mediocre Pinot Grigios on the market that when I tried this I was pleasantly surprised with the price quality ratio.

Villa Masetti Pinot Grigio is from a family owned vineyard north of Venice. They have been making wines for over 200 years and thankfully for them they seem to be in the right business as it was exactly what I would expect from a good Pinot Grigio; a dry crisp, easy-drinking and clean white and nothing like my fore mentioned memory.

Straw yellow in colour with a pinkish tone which can be common in Pinot Grigio as it is a red skinned grape and there is however minimum, generally some skin contact with the juice. 

Quite a delicate nose of citrus fruits and a slight nuttiness possibly almonds. The wine has a gorgeous waxy texture on the palate and buckets of green apples. It’s crisp and clean with refreshing acidity.

Hopefully when I think of Pinot Grigio now it will be more about a few glasses of wine in the sun with the girls…fresh green salad with goats cheese and scallops… Not a Coke float or banana split in sight!

Till next time,

Clare