What does an ambassador for one of Alto Adige’s greatest wineries drink when she’s not drinking Alto Adige wines? That was the question.
Thankfully the extensive wine list at A16 provides many possible answers. Judith Unterholzner and I had a bite to eat at the bar with Scott Evans of the Henry Wine Group the other night, and we found that there are, in fact, California wines that will appeal to the racy and acid-driven palates of our Alto Adige friends…
Judith wanted to taste something from our own backyard, and so Scott chose the Robert Sinskey, Abraxas. Probably not the usual suspect as far as California whites are concerned, but certainly one of my favorites. This is a blend of Alto Adige varietals: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Gewurztraminer and Riesling. The closure is a snazzy glass stopper, popularized by Austrian winemakers.
On the nose the wine is stunningly mineral- sparkling with limestone and fresh cut apples. On the palate is lively, floral and laced with ginger and wild sage. Truly everything you could want from a crisp white wine, although perhaps not what you’d expect from a California vineyard.
More importantly, it is a California white wine to impress the toughest critic, as well as your favorite Euro-centric palate.