Before dinner last night, my husband and I really wanted a wine that was easy to sip without food. We opened a bottle of Grignolino, a wine that is often hard to find but can be a perfect precursor to a meal. Grignolino typically comes from Italy and is almost impossible to find grown in the US. I was chatting with a friend of mine on Twitter and she pointed out that only 2 wineries in CA offer Grignolino (unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to try either). I wish it were more readily available…its not a fancy wine but it’s approachable and fun to drink with or without food.
About the Wine- From the Winery
Quattro Leoni 2008 Grignolino is 100% Grignolino from the Piedmonte region of Italy. It has 13.5% alcohol and retails for $16.99. For more information see www.marquee.com
Now the Fun Part- Tasting the Wine
This Grignolino pours a light garnet in the glass. The wine, best served slightly chilled, has a nose of raspberry and strawberry with some mineral notes interwoven. The palate is fruity and light with tastes of watermelon and strawberry. The finish is crisp and a little dry with some hints of balancing acidity. A casual and refreshing wine that I will definitely have again!
My Wine Rating- B
Food Pairing Suggestions- This wine can be a great aperitif or paired with delicate foods such as prosciutto and melon or a shellfish risotto.
*This wine was sent to me as a sample for the purpose of review
Try the Heitz Cellars Vineyards Grignolinio when you get a chance, it is an interesting taste comparison to the Quattro Leoni!
My take from a couple months back on Grignolinio – http://www.beta.marquee.com/cgi-bin/artisanWine/page-MonthlyFeature/template-monthly_feature-archive.html
Back to work, no more labor day weekend!
~C.Cribb
I will definitely keep my eye open for the Heitz…nice article:-)