Bota Box Pinot Grigio Breeze

Bota Box Pinot Grigio Breeze is a California white at 13% ABV, made from the grape the Italians call Pinot Grigio and Alsace calls Pinot Gris. Under the Pinot Grigio name the style is usually light-bodied and dry, so expect crisp, fairly neutral wine in the lean, easy-drinking mould rather than the richer, rounder texture of an Alsatian Pinot Gris. Wines like this typically show citrus and pear, sometimes a touch of stone fruit or green apple, with bright acidity and a clean, short-to-medium finish. Because the wine is built around freshness rather than weight, it suits lighter dishes. Raw and lightly cooked seafood is the classic match: ceviche, sashimi, grilled white fish, shrimp with lemon and herbs. Salmon works too, as long as it is not heavily sauced. California versions of the grape tend to have a little more body than their Italian counterparts, so they can stand up to a modest cream sauce, a chicken piccata, or a simple pasta with garlic and olive oil. Salads with vinaigrette, goat cheese, and fresh vegetable appetizers are also good partners, since the acidity cuts through oil and tang without overwhelming delicate flavors. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which keeps the acidity crisp and the fruit lively. Pull it from the refrigerator a few minutes before pouring if it has been very cold for a long time. There is no reason to decant a wine of this kind. A standard white wine glass with a moderate bowl and a slightly narrowed rim is ideal for concentrating the citrus and pear aromas. This is a bottle to drink now, not one to cellar. Pinot Grigio in this style is made for freshness, and its appeal is at its best in the months after purchase rather than after years of storage. Keep it cool, and finish it within a few weeks of opening if it comes in a format that protects the wine from air.