Beyond Pinot Grigio ........2012 Italian White Wines

Talk about Italian white wine and for most people one type comes to mind - pinot grigio. Granted there are many very nice pinot grigios out there, unfortunately most people associate it with one of the mass produced ones which can be quite light and unremarkable. As we have been tasting through the recent 2012 Italian white wines we cant help but to be impressed with them. Regardless of the grape varietal and region, we are seeing wines of great depth, rich fruit, and noticeable balance. The quality which really speaks to me also is the persistent and wonderful finish on these wines. The wines I'm about to highlight below all make for great cocktail wines, in addition to pairing particularly well with fish dishes and cheese pairings.

1. Bisson Bianchetta Portofino $21.99/btl. This might be my favorite. You can't help but imagine sitting on a patio along the Ligurian coast as you sip this beauty. The wine exhibits beautiful citrus tones and subtle hints Ocean. At 12.5% alcohol this is a winner!

2. Fontezoppa Verdicchio $16.99/btl. The best characteristic of this wines is the loooong finish. Great flavors of apple, almond, and intense minerality. This wine also is quite restrained in terms of alchohol at 13%.

Other 2012 Italian whites worth checking out:

* Cesani Vernaccia $13.99/btl.

* Tintero Moscato d'Asti $14.99/btl.

* Novacella Kerner $19.99/btl.

* Broglia Gavi $19.99/btl.

* Zenato Lugana $13.99/btl.

* Cantina Tollo Pecorino $14.99/btl.

* Gugliaro Pinot Nero $19.99/btl.

Stop in and let us pair some of these wines with the summer dishes you'll be serving. These are definitely worth trying!

-Greg