Straw gold with hints of green color; pear, apple on the nose; green apple, citrus/orange zest on the palate.
Dry, crisp, light, straightforward, simple but balanced. Some minerality and tartness on the finish produced by refreshing acidity that will help it pair with pasta and cream sauces, vegetables au gratin, summer salads. The winery claims this is “the way pinot grigio used to taste before it became so popular.” In any event, Luna Nuda is a brand specifically made for the U.S. market, introduced in 2009.
Luna Nuda means “naked moon” in Italian and is an expression used by grape growers to describe a clear night with a full moon, a nod to the mystical energy of the moon in winemaking. Luna Nuda is made by the Giovanett family, fourth generation winemakers, at their Castelfeder Winey in the Alto Adige region of northeast Italy, near the Austrian border. The region often is called the Italian Alps, although the mountains are called the Dolomites and the IGT demonination is Vigneti Delle Dolomiti. It is graced by medieval towns, alpine meadows, and glittering waterfalls fueled by meltwater from the snow-capped, towering mountains in the background of the vineyards. The grapes for this pinot grigio are grown in the valley between soaring mountains.
Castelfeder Luna Nuda Italia Pinot Grigio 2015 is a nice pinot grigio at a very nice price; worth a try. $13-15
There are a number of interesting videos on the winery’s website that showcase the land, winery, and wine. Worth a watch.
Second photo: Giovantt family.
