Holidays With Italian White Wines

DISCLAIMER: You won’t find scores in my wines stories. I’ll tell you with words and you have permission to salivate and give them a try. We should find our own groove, because every palate is as unique as our own fingerprints.

Holidays With Italian White Wines

This is especially dedicated to anyone Italian, who’s celebrating American holidays and your own Italian heritage. We all should celebrate our forefather’s homelands on Thanksgiving, along with the kindness of Natives, during those first days. For me, it’s mostly British, and we all know how that turned out.

I’m devoted this post to Pinot Grigios and Garganega, because a lot of samples have come my way, opening great doors of flavor. My first thought is about appetizers, when I think about wines for holidays. I then think about appetizers like cheeses, and then prosciutto pops into my head. We all know how it coats our palates, and white wines just harmoniously blends with the right cheeses, right there in our memory banks. It’s a flavor marriage that works, just ask the French, which is my heritage! So, off we go!

And, remember, I’m what’s called a superpalate. People with superpalates know it’s a curse, not a blessing. I taste a whole lot more than the average palate. Accordingly,  I let wines linger and can point out certain subtleties other people might not even get. (We’re about 30 percent of the population.)

Appetizers with white wines

Some Examples I’ve Enjoyed

Earlier I wrote “Pinot Grigio’s Delicious Defense,” to explain how my superpalate interprets Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris). This is a bright side, and it’s got appetizers all over it. When some of us like to explore beyond “Chardonnay,” we find other whites to enjoy. Some of the white wines could include wines like are Albariño, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Marsanne, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, etc..

Italian Whites: Bolla and Cantina Zaccagnini

Bolla Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC

The crisp, fall air is part of our Thanksgiving traditions, but that doesn’t mean that all of the wines we enjoying have to go with big, bold reds, either. I just enjoy shifting gears.

That’s probably because Great Uncle Harold E. Clarke holds a US Patent, for the part of the gears that created a smooth segue from one to the next. That was in the 1938, #2,132,721.)

So, I’m introducing the Bolla Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC, as I segue into its deliciousness. It’s produced by Bolla’s and considered a true gem from their historic, Italian winery. The winery’s history has enjoyed over 130 years of excellence, crafted wine from hand picked grapes, in Italy’s picturesque Veneto Wine Region, Italy region.

This Pinot Grigio’s flavors reminded me of a walk in the orchard, where fresh peaches hang in the sun, and I have to fight off the birds, to get any That’s when you know exactly that the fruit is ripe and dripping. (I’m obviously hungry.) And then, we have that little lime tree with a mild citrus flavors. Its got fresh acidity and the flavors are delicate, so it won’t take away from appetizer flavors.* [Hint]. I’d go medium food flavors with this wine, so neither food outbalances either. It was seamlessly delicious when I had it with food.

Cantina Zaccagnini Pinot Grigio 2023

This wine company is epic! Just take a walk around their website. It’s almost like they passed the test of creativity hands down. What do you think about that circle? And, the art that’s 3-D, pretty amazing for a wine website. That tells me the level of art the owner appreciates. I’m sitting here sipping and just loving it. I got to the Tralcettos, and there were all of the wine varietals. I learned, it’s in the beautiful Province of Province of Chieti, which is one of the oldest cities in Italy. It’s roots date back to ancient times. Also, the distance fro northern Chieti North to Rome is 118 miles. More than a day’s walk, yet still a strong history to Rome and helped with Samite Wars, off and on. That was on and off from the years 304 BC to 298 AD. This is probably not cocktail talk, but it will keep you from fighting with your family. (Happy Thanksgiving and you’re welcome!)

This Pinot Grigio is crisp and has vibrant expression of this wine variety, capturing the refreshing qualities of the Abruzzo region. Cooled by mountain breezes, the Pinot Grigio vines thrive in mineral-rich soils, resulting in a wine with delicate notes of green apple, citrus zest, and a hint of floral undertones. This bright and lively wine dances on the taste buds, making it the perfect choice for a cool respite on hot days or a delightful pairing with light salads, seafood, or grilled vegetables.

Garganega with Passimento

Passimento Pinot Gris

Pasqua Italy, Passimento Pinot Grigio

Grapes were selected and harvested in advance for this Garganega. Then they’re allowed to dry for a short time, inside a Fruttaio. The picture below is one of those structures. The air is allowed to breeze through to speed the process, which allows the grapes to have more concentrated aromas and sugars. This process is called appassimento. I took this photo below, when I was in Tuscany at Castello di Meleto  I enjoy showing this example, because so few of us ever see this process in real time. And, yes, I got caught eating a few of those grapes.

I am reuniting with this familiar wine friend. It’s called Veneto Bianco, and is produced by Pasqua Wines. It’s always a favorite and delightful friend. Each time I really enjoy opening the bottle, due to it being tried and true.  When wineries send me a sample, I’m honored to be on their mind. Writing about it, savoring every sip, feels like a date arranged by Bacchus. Here’s to the joy of sharing something truly special.

The variety is the Garganega grape. This isn’t your mom or dad’s Chardonnay—it’s something entirely different. Bold and beautiful, this wine carries the essence of peach pit and perfectly browned marshmallows. It’s a taste that transports me right back to a night in the mountains of Marche, Italy. More flavors? Absolutely. It’s deeply satisfying, bold in its character. The first sip is an experience in itself, and as you continue, more layers unfold: a top note of tartness, a dry finish, and a lingering hint of grapefruit.

Giovanni Maria-Farini at Castello di Meleto

DRYING GRAPES [PHOTO: Jo Diaz of Giovanni Maria-Farini at Castello di Meleto’s Giovanni Maraia-Farina]