Borghese Pinot Grigio 22

When the staff and I preview new shelf additions, Pinot Grigio is always one of the most closely examined wines in any tasting lineup. There's an ocean of the stuff made, and the quality seesaws from terrible to terrific. We're always thrilled when we taste a well-made, moderately priced Pinot Grigio.

In the wine world, there's no getting around the fact that some wines are more about image and marketing than what's in the bottle. Pinot Grigio is a veritable poster child for this practice. On the one hand, there's flashy packaged, cheap, super-market plonk that disappoints in every way except price.

On the opposite end, you have the famously fancy properties that put all of their energy into marketing and none into the bottle — often purchasing wine from their less expensive neighbors. Like many things in this life, throw out the high and low, and what's left in the middle is often the best. Borghese Pinot Grigio is a perfect example of how this works in the wine world.

Borghese Pinot Grigio is a private-label bottling crafted for Denver-based U.S. importer Charles Lazzara. Produced at the venerable Castelfeder winery in Italy's South Tyrol, the wine represents a unique collaboration that merges Charles Lazzara's vision of bringing well-make, attractively priced wine to American wine lovers with Castelfeder's internationally acclaimed winemaking prowess. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

In your glass, Borghese Pinot Grigio opens with inviting aromas of green apple, pear, and citrus, framed by beautifully subtle floral notes. Bright lift and refreshing minerality lead to lively flavors of green apple and pear, joined by hints of lemon zest and white peach that linger nicely through the finish.

As you'd expect, Borghese Pinot Grigio pairs exceptionally well with a nearly infinite range of foods. Its crisp brightness perfectly complements all of our favorite light seafood preparations, notably grilled shrimp and seared scallops. We also love this Pinot Grigio with freshly tossed fresh salads, vegetarian fare, and it's also great with soft cheeses and simple charcuterie presentations. It'll be equally at home at your next casual lunch or dinner party, and of course, it's a natural for sipping on the porch.