Description
Veneto, Italy
Astoria’s Alisia is about as honest a Pinot Grigio as you’ll find at this price point — light-footed, crisp, and genuinely thirst-quenching rather than merely inoffensive. It comes from the Veneto, the vast and varied north-eastern corner of Italy that produces everything from Amarone to Prosecco, and where Pinot Grigio, done well, can be a quietly lovely thing. Alisia sits firmly in the fresh and easy-drinking camp: pale, bright, and built for immediate pleasure rather than philosophising over.
Tasting Notes: White peach, lemon zest, and a faint almond note on the palate, with enough acidity to keep things lively.
Food Pairing Suggestions: In the Veneto, a wine like this would be poured without ceremony alongside a plate of prosciutto di San Daniele and grissini before a meal, or with cicchetti at a bacaro in Venice — little bites of salt cod mantecato on crostini, or a few slices of sopressa. It’s a natural match for the region’s delicate freshwater fish dishes, particularly tench or trout from the Alpine lakes served simply with olive oil and herbs. Risotto bianco with a handful of Treviso radicchio stirred through would work beautifully here, the wine’s acidity cutting through the butter without overpowering the dish’s subtle bitterness.
