Italian Pinot Grigio does occasionally get dismissed as pedestrian by those seeking a richer, more opulent experience from French (or more locally Mornington Peninsula) Pinot Gris, but this dismissal comes at a cost: the cost of never trying the elegant and textural complexity of Italy's finest.

Jermann have been releasing exceptional Pinot Grigio since 1974 and fifty vintages on, they're still at the top of their game.

While it does stick with the typical Italian Grigio maxim of earlier harvest (higher acid, lower alcohol), it also delivers with a memorable food-friendly texture thanks to six months on lees, and a veritable bouquet of peppery spices intertwined amongst a vibrant stone fruit canvas that offers something new with each sensory exploration of the glass.

This would be a great addition to any mushroom-based dish, especially risotto, a fresh and saline seafood spread or even a light chicken meal. Of course, if you want to steer clear of Pinot Grigio, that leaves more for me.