Please The Palate |

Don’t Disregard Pinot Grigio

This article originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register (October 2, 2015). When one thinks of pinot grigio, one might think of that light colored, almost clear, white wine that is refreshing but really has no identifying features. Is it all the more authentic when you drink one from Italy? Does it matter if you can’t really taste the difference from one to another? As far as many pinot grigios are concerned, they could have been produced by the same company but have different labels on them. There is nothing that makes them stand out. But, here is one that will.

Vigne del Malina is a family-owned winery in the Friuli region in Italy. This is not your Santa Margarita pinot grigio. Located in Grave, which means gravel, the winery is located in an old river bed with the mountains surrounding. Ironically, the two streams around the winery, the Malina and the Ellero, draw the shape of a wineglass (which is the image of the winery logo).

02 October, 2015

COS Winery: Giving natural wine a good name

The term “natural wine” can conjure up many strong reactions, and many of them are not positive. While natural wines can show the diverse personality of a wine, others think...

07 August, 2015

A Wide World of Choice for Pinot-Files

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register. Ahhhhhhh. Pinot noir. Just the name can make people swoon. Considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, the fickle red grape is highly sought after. It is thought of as a romantic wine that most people fall in love with. So, when the annual World of Pinot Noir weekend comes, Pinot lovers from all over the country come to celebrate this grape.

As Pinot-files, we all lust for the perfect expression of this grape. From its primary home in Burgundy, France to the Russian River, Carneros and Central Coast (Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria) to the Willamette Valley in Oregon to New Zealand (Central Otago, Martinborough and Marlborough), there is no shortage of world-class regions. These regions provide the perfect growing conditions for this picky grape. These cooler regions provide a long spring and fall, resulting in complex and interesting wines with aromas that range from cherry, cranberry and raspberry to earth and mushroom. As I wandered through World of Pinot Noir, there were more than 200 wineries pouring their wines over two days. I found the Burgundy table, moved to some Santa Barbara producers, met a new Oregon producer and tasted through the New Zealand table. I could taste the various differences from region to region and was quite content. But, then I saw a sign that said “Michigan” and another that said “Finger Lakes.” I shook my head in confusion. Pinot in Michigan and Upstate New York? Doesn’t it snow and freeze there? I quickly changed my focus and decided to explore the area of the room lined with wineries from regions that you wouldn’t expect for pinot noir production.

01 July, 2015