pinot grigio is a nice name for a grape. although it has five syllables opposed to malbec’s casual two, it ends in the smooth and catchy italian vowels “i” then “o.” a nice name with an easy personality, it is the safe go-to drinking choice for most females ages 30 and up. “i’d like a glass of pinot grigio” are the code words for “i’d like an easy glass of white wine that's not going to give me a sinner's hangover . ” pinot grigio is like a nice girl who doesn’t talk back. it’s the polite white button-down shirt in a closet of fitted blacks and loud kelly greens. without the help of metaphors, how can we define an easy wine? an easy wine is a wine without drastic points; a wine that is not... too oaky, too tart, too big, too light, too tannic, too sweet, or too dry. if you scored each characteristic (oak / acid / body / tannin / sweetness) on a scale of 1 to 10, then pinot grigio would score an average of 5. of course, there are styles that can be a 7 or even an almost obnoxious 10, like a pinot grigio whose flavor hangs out in your mouth for awhile or the thick and golden kind that makes an unforgettable pairing with new york style pizza. but remember an average score of 5 refers to the mass-produced style of pinot grigio, the type solicited by the chic and puckish “real housewives" or the type that you'll drink at a shotgun wedding with poofy white dresses and hairspray. in a world of spunk and endless color, why not experiment with cobalt blue or start with cream. ask yourself… how many white button-down shirts do I need? maybe one, a fine one, a calvin klein. still easy but not so safe, here are the season’s top picks for the pinot grigio princess…
wine: langhe bianco
producer: paolo scavino
year: 2009
grape: sauvignon blanc and chardonnay
greater place: piedmont
flag: italy
market price: under 20
producer: marqués de cáceres
year: 2010
grape: albariño
greater place: rías baixas
wine: "4 o'clock" chardonnay
producer: spring seed wine company
year: 2009
grape: chardonnay
greater place: mclaren vale
flag: australia
market price: under 15
*friendly warning: the label changes
www.springseedwineco.com
wine: pecorino "villa angela"
producer: velenosi
year: 2009
grape: pecorino
greater place: marche
flag: italy
market price: under 20
www.domaineselect.com
producer: spring seed wine company
producer: velenosi