Luna Vineyards Napa Valley Pinot Grigio 2008 ($18) - Fun in the Sun

By Mac McCarthy

Luna sent me their latest release for a taste.

I reviewed three of Luna's Napa-sourced wines recently, including 2007 Pinot Grigio, a 2007 Sangiovese, and a 2006 Merlot, and found three good beverage wines perfect for light meals.

The newly released 2008 Luna Vineyards Napa Valley Pinot Grigio ($18) is aromatic and grapefruity, the way PG should be. The taste is light and tangy. With a light dinner, it's pleasantly palate-clearing, a good beverage wine. And on a too-warm June evening, it was mild and refreshing.

And after spending the night in the fridge, it grew a bit richer, balancing the acidity better, and complemented my lunch deliciously.

Nice job.

Luna Vineyards, an artisanal winery on the Silverado Trail in Napa, was founded by Mike Moone and George Vare in 1995, pioneering in producing Italian varietals in the Napa area, and has recently added Cabs and Merlots to their lineup, focussing on organically grown grapes. President & CEO MaryAnn Tsai and winemaker Jim McMahon run the winery using natural fermentation with native yeasts, extended maceration, and minimal intervention.

Luna Vineyards, 2921 Silverado Trail, Napa, California 94558;
707-255-5862  http://www.lunavineyards.com/