Review: Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio

If you are always on the lookout for tasty and affordable white wines to try at home, then the Lumina Pinot Grigio, by well established winemaker Ruffino, should most certainly be on your list.

This wine is light, medium dry and very drinkable, and it is perfect for pairing with summery dishes. So whether you are planning a dinner party, preparing a dinner for two, or simply want something yummy to sip whilst relaxing on the patio, this bottle is for you.

Read on for an in depth look at the origins, taste profile and pairing suggestions for this delicious and well priced white wine.

Overview

Wine: Lumina Pinot Grigio
Winery: Ruffino
Grape: Pinot Grigio
Varieties: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige / Atesino delle Venezie
Alcohol: 12%
Allergies: Contains sulfites
Taste profile: Dry, medium body, medium acidity, pear, apple and citrus lemon.

Description

The lovely thing about Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio is that it tastes exactly how you would hope a classic Pinot would taste, and though there are no big surprises, the freshness and crispness that it delivers is simply timeless. 

This wine is very herbal on the nose, and as you open the bottle the first thing you will sense will be whafts of summer hay and garden sage, followed by more subtle lemony fragrances threading through the aroma.

Pour out a glass and you will notice the pale gold color that shimmers and glistens in the light, indicative of the zesty, fruitful characters you are about to enjoy.

On first sipping you will detect those tree fruit notes of pear, apple and even a hint of apricot in the well balanced bouquet.

The medium bodied, dry quality is wonderfully palatable and makes for easy drinking, and the medium acidity is just enough to wake up those taste buds and enliven your senses.

And, like many other Pinot Grigio wines, it tends to be lower in calories.

Citrus high notes follow the primary characters and transport you to the lemon and orange groves of Italy. These light and zesty flavors dance on the tongue and are followed by a soft, earthy, wet stone tone that finishes quickly and leaves you wanting more.

Pairing Suggestions

As with many dry white wines, Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio pairs wonderfully with shellfish, particularly when it is cooked to a tender finish.

Lobster, shrimp, clams, crab and oysters are all ideal partners for this medium bodied wine, and the dryness and acidity lift the flavors of the shellfish and work to highlight them.

This Pinot compliments soft flavored shrimp and prawn dishes in particular, and won’t get lost behind buttery or creamy sauces.

Due to its clean, bright finish this wine also works well in partnership with simple vegetarian dishes, particularly salads, pastas and dishes prepared using coconut or almond milk.

So if you are planning a mean free meal then Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigo will help to really make your flavor combinations sing.

In the same way, mushroom based dishes will work brilliantly with this wine because their buttery, mellow flavor will benefit from the wine’s energizing lift.

And finally, this wine makes for a wonderful aperitif. Whether you are passing hors d’oeuvres around on a silver platter, or simply nibbling on crackers and cheese, this light and vibrant beverage will be the perfect pre meal accompaniment. 

About Ruffino Winery

Ruffino are a well established producer of beautiful Italian wines, and where they began as a Tuscan based company, they have now extended their ventures to include extensive estates in the region of Veneto, Northern Italy, where this delicious Pinot Grigio is from.

Veneto is particularly famed for its prosecco and white wines, and the conditions on the luscious slopes are ideal for Pinot Grigio grapes.

Ruffino are committed to both ethical and sustainable wine production, and for that reason you can enjoy this bottle in the knowledge that it has been produced by experts who care.

About Lumina Pinot Grigio

Although we most commonly associate Pinot Grigio with Italy, the grape actually first originated in France where it is known as Pinot Gris.

Italy has since become the leading producer in this tart and neutral wine, and Ruffino Lumina hails from the delle Venezie DOC (meaning destination of controlled origin).

The DOC stamp signals that the grapes grown and developed in the Venezie region have been held to a high standard in accordance with the regulations laid out by leading governing bodies.

These standards include having reduced yields in the local vineyards. This not only reduces the effect on the soil and the surrounding environment due to the lessening of chemicals and machinery needed, the reduced yield also improves the quality of the grapes grown on each vine.

As a general rule, the fewer grapes produced per vine, the fuller, tastier and more healthy those grapes are.

It is for that reason that Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio has a more complex and full flavor profile than it had in its previous iteration, when it was grown in a Venezia Giulia IGT destination. 

The name Lumina was picked in reference to the moonlight that is so important to the growth and development of the Pinot Grigio grapes. It is in the cool nighttime, beneath the light of the Italian moon, that these grapes develop most of their characteristic aromas and flavors.

Final Thoughts

Although there are more sophisticated wines available, this beautiful Pinot Grigio from the Ruffino winemakers is a great day to day bottle that is affordable as well as being extremely palatable.