Grillo Di Meno Sicilia 2024

This is the kind of wine I always hope to discover early on in a Mediterranean summer holiday, so that one can stock up and not head back to the wine aisle every day hoping to find something better. It's got that that certain something that adds joy to a lunch, or a conversation, or an evening meal, and just makes you think, yes, this is summer.

Last night we drank it as an aperitif and it was excellent with little chunks of salty parmesan cheese and olives. And we then had it with ravioli with ricotta and amalfi lemon butter and asparagus and it was spot on.

It would be lovely with summer dishes like goat's cheese, peach, honey and mint crostini, cantaloupe melon and prosciutto, summer prawns, artichokes, heirloom tomatoes, bruschetta with basil, courgette flowers, baked summer vegetables, summer risotto, squid, sea bass, grilled peach and chicken salad, or grilled chicken, and fresh pasta pesto. You get the idea.

With nectarine and melon notes, and white flowers, with a wee hint of salinity, and a coolness, like a slice of cucumber in Hendrick's Gin, the aroma is just lovely, and the palate is pure and dry, with a nice juicy, peachy feel, with a nice subtle lick of fresh summer herbs. It's only 12.5% alcohol, which I appreciate on a summer's day, and when the wine is flowing.