Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is a dry, unoaked Italian white from Alto Adige and the wider Trentino-Alto Adige region, bottled at 12.5% ABV. Wines from these Alpine valleys typically show clean orchard fruit, so expect green apple and ripe pear with a citrus edge of lemon or grapefruit, sometimes with a faint almond or mineral note. The body is light to medium, the acidity bright and refreshing, and there is no tannin or oak influence. The finish is dry, crisp and fairly short, which suits a wine meant to be poured young and cold. Serve it well chilled, around 7 to 9°C (45 to 48°F). Straight from a fridge that's been running cold, give it ten minutes on the counter so the fruit isn't muted. It doesn't need decanting, since there's no tannic structure to soften and aeration adds little to a wine this fresh. A standard white wine glass with a medium bowl and a slightly narrowed rim concentrates the citrus and pear aromas without letting them dissipate. At the table, the high acidity and modest alcohol make it a natural match for light, delicate food. Raw or lightly cooked shellfish such as oysters, prawns and scallops work well, as do grilled white fish, calamari and a simple sole with lemon. It also handles antipasti of prosciutto and melon, a salad with goat's cheese, and pasta in a light sauce, such as clams, courgette and lemon, or a fresh tomato and basil. Spicy, heavily sauced or rich cream-based dishes will overwhelm its restraint, so look to a fuller white for those. This is a drink-now bottle. Pinot Grigio in this style is made for freshness rather than cellaring, and its fruit and acidity are at their best within a couple of years of the vintage. Keep it on its side or upright in a cool, dark spot, and once opened, reseal and refrigerate it, where it will stay in good condition for two to three days.