Grechetto: Umbria’s surprisingly versatile white wine

Locked away in Italy is a seemingly endless spectrum of wine varietals.  You could probably taste a couple regional specialties each week and still have a few left by year end!  So when yet another “never saw this” appears on shelf it’s worth taking a look.

Of course the downside of having this attitude is that not all Italian wines are good.  In fact, there are some that really don’t work with food, for quaffing, or even as a pass-around.  But fortunately these are in the extreme minority with the majority being quite interesting in their own way.

Most people think of Italy’s best wines as red, but the whites are also quite good.  One of the better grapes that the Italians have perfected is the Grechetto varietal.  This is especially true with those grown in the Umbria area, where they are known for their versatility, being both excellent food partners or simply for enjoying with good company.

One of these, referred to as “Grecante Grechetto”, is available from Arnaldo-Caprai.  Their company has been steadily increasing their exports to the US in recent years.  Right now these have been showing up mostly at bottle shops and various internet sources.  But with a production level of well over 3000 cases, there is a chance that some of the big box stores may be getting these Grechettos in from time to time.

Doing a taste comparison of this wine against others is difficult.  Sometimes it seems like a cross between Chardonnay and Riesling.  But then as is opens up a little and is consumed with food, its bouquet picks up more of a Sauvignon Blanc character, but with a little orange in the mix.  With a very distant hint of sweet on the mid-palate balanced with crisp acidity, it jumps back to Riesling.

But no matter how you choose to express its taste, the end result is a relatively complex and interesting white wine that will pair with shellfish, light salad, or poultry quite well.  No matter what, Grecante Grechetto is a really nice buy for about $18.

Serve chilled after 30-40 minutes in the fridge (50-55 degrees).  Don’t worry about leaving it out on the table to breathe before your guests arrive.  This wine becomes more complex as it reaches room temperature and begins to show off its distinctive fruit components.