Lunaria Ramoro Pinot Grigio

Lunaria's Ramoro Pinot Grigio breaks from the pale, neutral mold that's made so many people dismiss this grape entirely. This is Pinot Grigio done the old-school way, with extended skin contact that pulls out the copper-to-pink tones lurking in those gris skins and delivers actual texture and flavor. Instead of pressing the juice off immediately like most industrial Pinot Grigio, Lunaria lets the wine macerate with the skins, extracting pigment, phenolics, and aromatic compounds that give this wine its coppery hue and substantially more interesting personality. The Lunaria estate in Abruzzo has been certified organic and biodynamic since the 1970s, long before it was fashionable, farming their vineyards on the Adriatic side of central Italy with strict attention to soil health and native biodiversity. The extended skin contact during fermentation is what sets Ramoro apart from the industrial norm. Where most producers press immediately to preserve that pale straw color and neutral profile, Lunaria macerates the wine with the skins, a traditional technique that extracts not just color but structure and complexity. The estate's commitment to biodynamic practices means the vineyards are managed as a living ecosystem, with cover crops, compost teas, and lunar planting cycles all playing a role in what ends up in the bottle. The nose opens with white flowers and yellow stone fruit, plus an almost waxy, ethereal quality that adds complexity. On the palate, expect fresh acidity and a savory, almost saline finish that makes you reach for another sip instead of zoning out halfway through the glass. This is the kind of bottle that works beautifully with food rather than just serving as porch-pouring background noise. The texture and salinity make it a natural with crudo, grilled whole fish, or anything involving citrus and olive oil. It also handles richer preparations better than your standard Pinot Grigio, so don't hesitate to pour it alongside roast chicken or pasta with clams. Serve it properly chilled but not ice-cold so the aromatics can actually express themselves. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.