If you’ve been reading this site for a while, you’ll know the Famatina Valley in La Rioja province is my obsession. It’s the heartland of Torrontés Riojano, Argentina’s most distinctive white grape, and one of the most underrated wine regions in the world.
But last week I found something unexpected on a Co-op shelf: a Famatina Valley Pinot Grigio. From La Riojana cooperative, no less.
So I bought a bottle.
Who is La Riojana?
La Riojana is a wine cooperative based in Chilecito, La Rioja province, sitting at over 1,000 metres altitude in the foothills of the Famatina mountain range. The are one of the main producers of organic Argentinian wines from Famatina Valley. They’ve been making wine since 1940 and are one of the few Argentine producers with genuine, consistent UK distribution. They are stock in the Co-op, no less. They import not only wine, but great quality olive oil, also available in the UK.
If you’re new to Famatina Valley wines, La Riojana is the best place to start. And now you don’t even need to find a specialist retailer. Co-op stocks them.
So, Pinot Grigio from Argentina?
It’s not as unusual as it sounds. The high altitude and dry Andean climate of the Famatina Valley create a long, cool growing season, not unlike northern Italy where Pinot Grigio originates. The grapes ripen slowly, retaining the acidity that makes a good Pinot Grigio crisp and refreshing rather than flat.
If you are looking for something rather unexpected than Pinot Grigio start here.
Pinot Grigio Tasting Notes
Even if you are an avid wine drinker or someone who knows “their grapes”, there is a good tecnique to discover wine differently. Not quite like a sommelier or any wine specialist, but like what you are: a consumer. I am truly believe information is power so, here are my key point to know what to look for when you are opening a bottle of any wine of you choice. It is: nose, look, taste and body.
- Nose: when you pour a glass of wine, allow some air to it and smell. Remember that high altitude wines need to ‘breathe’ more. But do close your eyes and smell. What you’d normally find is that Pinot Grigio has a green apple smell, sometimes (depending on the terroir) it could be peachy, with hints of ripe pear, somewhat sweet and zesty, like a lime. There will be a hint of tropical fruit,which is the main difference with high altitude Pinot Grigio vs its Italian counterpart.
- Look: Pinot Grigio is a white wine – we know that, which means that there are no tanins. Tanins give wine the dark colour, but white grapes lack tanins, and therefore the red colour is missing. What you get is a gold but almost green shade. Unlike Chardonnay, which is truly golden, yellow. Like I said above, Pinot Grigio exhudes green apple in smell, so naturally its colour will be bit of a greenish shade.
- Taste: It acid yes! It is refreshingly acid. Almost crisp. How do you measure the acidity in your mouth? By the sensation of salivation you experience when you taste it.
- Body: This is the abstract part of wine tasting. What is body? Body in wine is actually everything mentioned above. The smell, the look and the taste. Famatina Pinot Grigio is medium-bodied. It is not a densely sweet wine, but pleasantly aromatic. The kind of wine that never disappoints.
What food to pair with Pinot Grigio?
Seafood
From white scampi to fried calamari, Pinot Grigio is seafood best friend. Being a relatively easy wine, you can never go wrong. I have found that most food pairings do match with Pinot Grigio and seafood is one of them. Thinking of getting Peruvian ceviche night? Or even the less fancy sea food dishes. Fish finger sandwiches, anyone? I have the wine for you.
Poultry but make it light
Avoid duck. I know. Pinot Grigio will disappear in heavy poultry meals like roast duck. Basically anything too heavy or greasy is a big no-no. The best option is roast chicken breasts or pork-tenderloin-based recipes.
Pasta and Pinot Grigio, a match made in heaven
No doubts that if you are having an italian dish, Pinot Grigio is your choice. However, be mindful with sauces, since the rules of heavy meals do apply for sauces, like bolognese or ragu, too. In Argentina, we would pair it with tagliatelle or even ravioli. Anything with pesto, oil should be your go to. Needless to say, Pinot Grigio is not just a summer wine, and pairing with pasta proves it.
Salads and vegetarian dishes
Anything that has flavours that are grassy, citrusy or zesty will pair well with Pinot Grigio. This is when paying attention to the effect of a wine on the nose comes in handy. Light vinagrettes in your zuchinni salads will be chef’s kiss. Goat’s cheese is an ally of Pinot Grigio, so bring on those cheese boards to the table.
Desserts – Yes!
Thinking of serving a fruit tart for dessert to your dinner party? Pinot Grigio is the wine for them. Especially, if they are citrusy, or peachy. Incorporate key lime pie and fruit tarts to the narrative. Even a fruit salad would be the perfect pairing. Something uncomplicated to end a wonderful banquet.
A piece of advice will be to avoid heavy sticky puddings or dark chocolate-based desserts as they will ‘eat up’ the flavour of your wine. If any of these are your dessert choice, play with another bottle, and pair it with a sweeter wine, like a nice Sauterness, instead. Enjoy the creativity.
Should you buy it?
If you’re curious about Argentine wine and want something familiar to start with, this is a good entry point. Pinot Grigio is a safe crowd-pleaser, but this one comes with a story most people on a Co-op wine run won’t know about: a mountain cooperative, 80-plus years of winemaking, sharing Fairtrade values to improve the livelihood of hundreds of families, in connection to the care of the world and a valley that deserves far more attention than it gets.
Find it in the white wine aisle at Co-op. Look for the Fairtrade label. Grab a bottle. Or maybe two.
FAQs
Is La Riojana Pinot Grigio available in UK supermarkets?
Yes. La Riojana Pinot Grigio is currently stocked at Co-op in the UK. It is one of the few Famatina Valley wines you can pick up on the high street without visiting a specialist retailer.
How is Argentine Pinot Grigio different from Italian Pinot Grigio?
The main difference comes down to altitude. The Famatina Valley sits at over 1,000 metres, which creates a longer, cooler growing season than most Italian regions. The result is a Pinot Grigio with the same crisp acidity you would expect, but with more pronounced tropical fruit notes alongside the classic green apple and pear. The high altitude terroir gives it a slightly more aromatic character.
What food pairs well with Pinot Grigio?
Pinot Grigio works best with lighter dishes. Seafood is the classic match, from calamari to ceviche to a simple fish finger sandwich. It also pairs well with pasta in light sauces like pesto or aglio e olio, roast chicken, goat’s cheese, and citrusy salads. For dessert, fruit tarts and key lime pie are a natural fit. Avoid heavy, rich dishes like duck, bolognese, or dark chocolate puddings as they will overpower the wine.
