The last rays of sunshine before winter

Santi Pinot Grigio Sortesele (2004)
Origin: Italy (delle Venezie)
Price: $13

It's October, yet Mother Nature has been teasing us with warm days. Voilà, Indian summer! I'm very seasonal with my wine consumption -- drinking more reds in cold weather and more whites in warm weather. So while the first chill in the air had triggered my taste for dry reds, this week I yearned for something light, bright and refreshing. There's just something about that no-need-for-a-coat feeling that changes your mindset.

Basically I'd say that this is a textbook pinot grigio. It's fairly mild and a tad bit buttery but has that typical clean dryness. Lemon and lime dance around on your tongue. It's golden yellow hue is like rays of sunshine beaming in your glass. This would be tasty with any seafood dish, not to mention light pastas.

For the record, "Sortesele" is a vineyard divided into many small portions of about 4,000 square meters each. Just thought you'd like to know where the name came from.

Tip: If pinot grigio is about the extent of your white wine consumption, next time try pushing your limits. Go for an Argentinian torrontés or a New Zealand sauvignon blanc. Your taste buds will thank me.