Kris Pinot Grigio

KRIS Pinot Grigio comes from Alto Adige, the northern Italian region in the Alps where cool nights and sharp day-night temperature swings preserve acidity in white grapes. At 12.5% ABV, it is a moderate-strength, dry-style white, and the producer's own description points to bright acidity, lively citrus, balanced minerality and subtle floral aromas. Expect a light to medium body, with lemon and green apple fruit, perhaps a touch of pear, and a clean, fairly short, mineral-tinged finish. Alpine Pinot Grigio generally has more tension and snap than the softer, rounder versions from warmer, flatter parts of Italy. Because it is a white with no tannin to speak of and little or no oak influence in this style, it is built for freshness rather than weight. That makes it a natural match for delicate seafood: raw oysters, grilled white fish, shrimp scampi, and calamari with lemon all suit its acidity. It also works with lighter pasta dishes such as spaghetti with clams or lemon-and-herb preparations, and with salads, prosciutto and melon, or soft fresh cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta. Heavily spiced or rich cream-based dishes will overwhelm it, so keep it to simpler, brighter flavors. Serve it well chilled, around 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F), which is roughly three hours in the refrigerator or thirty minutes in an ice bucket. Too cold and the subtle floral notes disappear; too warm and the acidity can feel loose. No decanting is needed, and the bottle is best simply opened and poured. A standard white wine glass with a slightly narrow bowl keeps the aromas concentrated and holds the temperature a little longer than a wide-mouthed glass. This is a drink-now bottle. Wines of this style are made for the freshness of their first couple of years and do not develop in the cellar, so there is little to gain from holding it. Keep it in a cool, dark place until you are ready to chill it, and open it while the citrus and floral character are at their most lively.