"pinot grigio" news and stories

As any true Real Housewives of New York City fan would know, Ramona Singer loves her Pinot Grigio. So, it was only a matter of time until she released her own wine brand.

"According to inside sources, the wine is being produced in the Veneto region of Italy and will be part of Opici Wines." Luxist got an exclusive sneak peek of the unofficial rendition of her simple, yet elegant wine label.

Head over to Luxist for photos and more on the wine.

Until I became a wine writer, very few Pinot Grigios hit the spot.

That's because most – whether from Italy, where it's an extremely common varietal, or California – lack complexity and depth. Considered a wine to appease all palates, the problem is that it rarely rates high with any of those. Many of these Pinot Grigios are "watered-down," mass-produced wines designed to be sold at a very low price or put on a restaurant menu with little regard for whether or not it's a solid choice.

Yet because of their light body and high acidity, and elegant notes of peach and apricot, carefully picked Pinot Grigios are perfect for picnics or backyard dining. Various seafood dishes, so long as the accompanying sauces or spices are not robust, make excellent pairings. (One of our favorites is soft-shell crab, with salmon or oysters as close seconds.)

After the jump, find our five favorite Pinot Grigios from a recent tasting.

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With the spring season around the corner, we're already looking forward to more chilled whites. And as much as a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel jazzes up pizza, so do some white varietals. In developing this list we looked for white wines with viscosity, complexity and legs – ones that aren't shy and can stand up to tomato-based sauces, rich mozzarella and an abundance of toppings, from spicy sausage to basil leaves.

After the jump, five of our favorites.

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