Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. As many of you know my new favorite wine is usually the wine that is in my glass at the time. Today I want to talk about one of my favorite summer whites.

Well summer is taking its sweet time this year but in fact it has been pleasant as all get out in eastern Washington. So I have of course been having tons of fun getting back into the swing of the wines of summer. One variety I truly love is Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio as they call it in Italy. Pinot Gris is one of the many mutations of Pinot Noir and can be made in many different styles. I enjoy the wines coming from Alsace France they are seriously delicious with bright fruit and minerality and wonderful with cheese. The Italian Pinot Grigio is usually a bit more tart and crisp a wine truly suited to the summer seafood salads and grilled oysters. The Pinot Gris from Oregon is so pretty it is difficult to decide whether to drink it or dab it behind your ears. But I think drinking it is a good way to go, especially with poached salmon. Here in Washington state I have had a few very good wines made with Pinot Gris. David Forsythe long time winemaker at Hogue and more recently at Mercer Estates has always made delicious Pinot Gris and I recently had one made by Milbrandt that was fruity and was quite easy to drink. So think about something besides Chardonnay this summer and maybe try a Pinot Gris.

Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.