Wine can be a great conversation starter and meal pairing.
Pinot Grigio is a light and crisp dry white wine with a pale straw yellow to light copper color. It has a bright and flowery fragrance and sweet acidic flavor with a clean finish. It should be drank in a narrow mouthed wine glass with a medium bowl to allow the wine to oxidize as it sits highlighting the floral aromas and flavors. The narrow mouth of the glass directs the wine to the front of the palate allowing you to fully taste the light fruity flavors before the acidic note on the back of your tongue.
Instructions
1. Pour the Pinot Grigio in the wine glass and allow it to rest for about five minutes to oxidize, or breath, as it is often called.
2. Swirl the wine around the glass to aid in oxidation. Notice the slow drops of wine that run down the inside of the glass. These are called "the legs" of the wine.The slower the drops fall, the higher the alcohol content in the wine.
3. Turn the glass to the side, so that it is pointing diagonally. Observe the thin clear line at the top of the wine. This is called the water line. This tells you the water content of the wine, which is determined by the amount of rain the grape crop got. The thinner the , the more acidic or stronger tasting the wine will be, when compared to other wines of the same variety.
4. Slowly turn the diagonally slanted glass toward your nose so that the bottom of the rim is at the bottom of your nose. Take a deep breath in to smell the wine. Concentrate on the different aromas of the wine. This will give your palate a hint of what it is about to experience.
5. Bring the rim of the glass to your mouth and pucker your lips loosely. Take a small sip, about half what you would typically take of a non-alcoholic drink.
6. Move the wine around in your mouth. Taste the different elements of the wine. You will likely taste a little oak or the type of wood that the wine was aged in. Lemon, flowers, apples and pears are common flavors to taste in Pinot Grigio, although the list of flavors is endless.
7. Drink the glass of wine with seafood, chicken or light pasta dishes. Avoid drinking dishes with tomato sauce because the acidic note clashes with the acidic .
8. Take a sip of Pinot Grigio after each bite of food to make the most of the pairing with the food.
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