Alberigo Pinot Grigio

Alberigo Pinot Grigio is a white wine bottled under the Esplanda label with a Massachusetts appellation, which makes it a New England take on a grape better known from northern Italy. Pinot Grigio in this style is typically dry and light to medium in body, with no tannin to speak of and no oak influence. Expect restrained aromas of pear, green apple and citrus peel, sometimes with a faint melon or almond note. The acidity is usually crisp and refreshing, and the finish short and clean rather than lingering. The producer hasn't published a detailed tasting profile for this bottle, so treat those descriptors as what the style generally delivers, not a measured description of this wine. Because wines like this are built around freshness, they suit light, simply prepared food. Steamed or baked shellfish, fried calamari, a New England-style fish fry or pan-seared haddock all work well, and a squeeze of lemon on the plate mirrors the wine's acidity. Chicken piccata, risotto with peas or asparagus, and pasta in a light olive oil and garlic sauce are also good matches. Heavily spiced or cream-rich dishes tend to overwhelm a wine this delicate. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which keeps the acidity bright without muting the fruit. About three hours in the refrigerator, or thirty minutes in an ice bucket, gets it there. There's no reason to decant. A standard white wine glass with a moderately narrow bowl concentrates the delicate aromas, and a pour of about four to five ounces leaves room to swirl. This is a drink-now bottle. Light, unoaked Pinot Grigio is made for freshness and generally doesn't improve with cellaring, so open it within a year or two of purchase for the liveliest fruit. Once opened, recork it and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days.