MNN - Mother Nature Network

Last week, Snooth put out a list of 10 Top Pinot Gris/Grigio Producers that covered a range of prices. These are wines that are easily available across the country that Snooth feels stand out above other easily available wines in the same price ranges. Since I’m always looking for a good bargain wine that’s also made sustainably, I decided to look into their $8 choice, Mezzacarona Pinot Grigio. Here’s what Snooth had to say about this wine.

 

 

I was pleased to find on Mezzacarona’s website a list of their “green management” practices. The information about the reduction of chemical treatments, water management, balanced vineyard management, energy management, waste management and quality/environmental certifications convinced me that they are taking sustainability seriously, so I decided I’d give this Italian wine a chance.

 

I easily found a bottle of Mezzacarona (pictured at left) at my local Wegman’s, and it was only $6.99. The wine is light and fresh. It’s a little drier than many Pinot Grigios I’ve had, and I found that very pleasing. I found it a little grassy, a little buttery, with some pear and grapefruit flavors, but I wouldn’t describe it as overly fruity.

 

With the Labor Day weekend coming up, I think this would be a great end-of-summer crowd-pleasing wine, and the price is excellent. If you’re hosting a crowd, this is an extremely affordable wine.

 

I’m always happy when I find a wine at a great price that comes from a vineyard that practices sustainability. It’s not always obvious from the bottle, so if you hear about a a budget-friendly wine that someone else is recommending, do a little research. You might find a new, excellently priced wine that you can serve knowing it’s more eco-friendly than some of the mainstream, lower priced wines.