Santa Marina Pinot Grigio

Santa Marina Pinot Grigio is a white wine from Massachusetts, sold in a 1.5-liter magnum. That is the equivalent of two standard 750 ml bottles, or roughly ten 5-ounce pours. The listing doesn't give a vintage, an ABV or official tasting notes, so what follows describes how Pinot Grigio usually behaves. Expect a dry, light-to-medium-bodied white with citrus, green apple and pear fruit, sometimes a touch of melon or white blossom. Pinot Grigio is normally made without oak and fermented in stainless steel, so expect no vanilla or toast. White wines carry no real tannin, and the structure comes from brisk acidity and a clean, fairly short finish. New England-grown whites often lean toward the crisper, higher-acid side, which suits this grape. The wine's lightness makes it easy to pair. It goes well with raw and lightly cooked shellfish, such as oysters, steamed clams, shrimp and scallops, and with simply grilled white fish or fried calamari with lemon. It also works with salads that have a vinaigrette, goat cheese, prosciutto and melon, and pasta in a light olive oil, garlic or cream-free sauce. Heavily spiced dishes and rich red-sauce recipes will overwhelm it, and a wine with more body suits those better. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which is about three hours in the refrigerator or 30 to 40 minutes in an ice bucket. The magnum is slow to warm, so it holds its temperature well on a table, but a wine sleeve or a bucket with some water in it helps over a long meal. Decanting isn't needed. Open it and pour. A standard white wine glass, or a slightly narrower tulip shape, concentrates the delicate aromas better than a wide bowl. Treat this as a drink-now bottle. Pinot Grigio is made for freshness, and cellaring tends to dull the fruit rather than develop it. Once opened, the large format will keep for a few days if re-corked or sealed and refrigerated, though the brightest flavors are in the first day or two. The size suits a table of six or more, or a weekend with several meals.