What Would Greg Drink: The Whites
Where you'll find Greg in T-minus two weeks, undoubtedly sipping on some of the fantastic white wines from Italy!
Before I head out over the horizon, I would like to share with you my current favorite wines that are currently in stock. It is a rambling, shotgun approach to highlighting wines I really like that you should try. In part one, I dive into some of the wonderful whites of Italy.
The 2022 Tenuta Montemagno "Nymphae" Monferrato Bianco $19.99, with the unlikely name and label, is my go-to antipasto wine. From Eastern Piedmont it is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Timorasso. The Sauvignon Blanc gives the wine a snap and bit of verve in the middle and the Timorasso adds power, depth, and complexity—you will thank me after you have tried it. The Valle d’Aosta, nestled in a valley in the French alps, is the smallest of Italian regions and hardly ever on anyone’s radar. The unique varietals they have highlight this alpine valley’s incredible bounty.
The 2020 Masion Vevey Albert Blanc de Morgex $29.99 is 100% Prie Blanc. Yes—you have never heard of the grape before. But that should not deter you, and it just might become your favorite varietal after you have tried it. This unoaked white has a vibrant central focus and a bit of edgy minerality that props up the richness of the wine. Sensational as an aperitif or with crustaceans.
On the southern border of Lake Garda is a region that has hills rivaling those of Bakersfield—ok, yes, it is flat as hell, but from this unlikely region comes one of my favorite wines, Lugana. The grape, called Turbiana locally, is actually an allele or two away from Verdicchio. The 2019 Selva Capuzza "Menasso" Lugana Riserva $32.99 shows remarkable complexity while a supple richness eases across your tongue. I love this wine with delicate fish or a pasta primavera.
I know I am geographically jumping across the Italian peninsula but just enjoy the ride because if you have never been you must put the Alto Adige on your next trip itinerary. It is one of the most visually spectacular places in Italy. Besides the optical pleasure, the wines and apples are magnificent. One of my favorites from the region is the 2022 Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Alto Adige $21.99. Terlano is one of Italy’s most successful wineries and among the best run co-ops in the world. Not to knock Pinot Grigio but it cannot hold a candle to Pinot Bianco. Pinot Bianco has a more complex flavor than Pinot Grigio as well as an aging ability that Pinot Grigio cannot match. Superb balance, lift on the back end, this wine will knock your socks off. Still in the Alto Adige but a little further south the 2022 Girlan "Indra" Sauvignon Blanc $29.99 is a wine that should be on your radar. Every restaurant I’ve been in recently has had a Sancerre by the glass, but this wine will blow them out of the water. It has none of the grassy flavors, just pure richness, a wonderful mouthfeel—you will be blown away. This is a new addition to our selection and soon to be a K&L legend.
Vermentino is a trendy varietal now and rightfully so, with so many regions—whether Sardinia, Tuscany, or Liguria—all creating wines from this grape but showing distinctive regional characteristics. This wine, the 2022 Lunae "Etichetta Nera" Vermentino Colli di Luni $32.99, comes from Liguria but the furthest point south just at the most northerly border of Tuscany. The marble quarries of Massa Carrara are a backdrop behind the vineyards, and they face scant kilometers away from the Tyrrhenian Sea. I visited the winery in 2016 and was amazed by how rich the wines were, but in an effortless way: complex, no wood, and eight-hour skin contact but just stainless steel after that. Amazingly complex while still showing drive and focus.