Pinot Grigio is an often frustrating varietal. It wants to be loved and there are a lot of wine drinkers who do in fact drink it in spades. The 
trouble is that a lot of the Pinot Grigio that’s widely available on US shelves is, to be kind, uninspiring. Speaking for myself I know that I’m always compelled to try Pinot Grigios that cross my path; the search for something great, always on my mind. A couple of months ago I looked at some wines from Graffigna; two Malbecs and two Cabernet Sauvignons, all of them were pretty tasty. So when the chance to taste their current release Pinot Grigio came up I was intrigued.
The 2008 Graffigna Pinot Grigio is 100% varietal. All of the fruit for this selection was handpicked. The grapes were sourced in the Tulum Valley, located in San Juan Argentina. The vineyards are close to 2,000 feet above sea level. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. The suggested retail price for this Pinot Grigio is $13.
Peaches, melon and a touch of hibiscus are prominent in the nose of this South American take on Pinot Grigio. Pineapple, ripe, sweet white peach and apricot star in the appealing palate. Those sweet and inviting fruit notes continue through the finish which also has some light hints of vanilla. I found this wine paired well with a simple snack of Kalamata olives, sharp cheddar and flatbread. That said I think this selection also drinks quite nicely on its own and would be a tremendous welcome wine for a dinner party.
The Pinot Grigio from Graffigna is a very tasty effort. This is an excellent selection for summer. It’s light and refreshing with sufficient Pinot Grigio character to keep things interesting. For a $13 price-point, less if you shop around, this selection won’t break your budget either.