Lately I’ve been branching outside of my comfort zone, which is usually French and American wine, and I’ve been drinking more Italian juice. There’s so much unique viticulture to glean from, like Sangiovese, Vermentino, Primitivo, Nebbiolo; and I could go on for a while because Italy boasts having over 2,000 native grape varietals. A lot of these grapes have genetically similar siblings all over the globe, and one of my favorites right now is Pinot Bianco. Pinot Bianco (known as “Pinot Blanc” in North America) is an Italian white grape that originated from a genetic mutation of the Pinot Noir grape where all the fruit on the vine is red except one cane or branch is white. You might also see Pinot Bianco labeled as Weissburgunder if it is from Austria.
St. Michael-Eppan is from the northernmost growing region in Italy, Alto-Adige, which used to be under Austria’s sovereignty and still retains much of an Alpine influence. This Pinot Bianco is great because of the lively acidity and crisp citrus flavors that it has to offer. It’s great by itself so you can bask in the apple and pear fruit flavors, or you could pair it with a mild cheese like one of the many differently flavored chevres from my favorite Longview cheesemaker, Haute Goat Creamery. I’ve also been told it is yummy with pizza, which is paramount for me because I’m always looking for a good pizza wine. This wine evokes a whimsical, fun, and free flowing movement that reminds me of the latest Caribou album; particularly the second track, “Silver.” Trust me. -Jessica
Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular grapes in the world. It’s grown in every major growing region, and because it is incredibly influenced by land and climate, each region produces an entirely different type of wine. For instance, if you are shopping for a wine from California you can expect acidity and lots of tropical and peach flavors. If you go a little farther north to Washington or Oregon, you can expect more flavors of honeydew and other stone fruit.
It’s all very ethereal and questionable, but as long as they’re making beautiful wine like this one, I won’t argue with it.
France produces Pinot Gris, a cool soft pear and apple combination, and Italy tends to have a lighter, more elegant fruit flavor. Take Alois Lagader as an example. This starry-eyed, biodynamic-influenced beauty has a zealous acidity and layers of Asian pear and white floral aromatics. The vineyards it hails from boasts sustainable and biodynamic growing practices, meaning not only do they use little to no pesticides, but the farmers take into account moon phases and various other earthly variables to determine the best times to harvest, plant, water, etc… It’s all very ethereal and questionable, but as long as they’re making beautiful wine like this one, I won’t argue with it. I recommend Midnight Moon, a goat cheese from Holland, and a Florence and the Machine album. – Candace