2025 Lamberti Pinot Grigio DOC, Veneto

Lamberti has been part of the Veneto wine landscape since 1964, when the winery was established at Lazise on the shores of Lake Garda. The house built its reputation around the approachable, food friendly wines of north eastern Italy, and Pinot Grigio is very much in that spirit. This is uncomplicated Italian white wine territory, but good fruit and plenty of freshness make all the difference.

The Veneto’s warm sunshine and cooling influences from the Alps and nearby Lake Garda suit Pinot Grigio particularly well. The 2025 is made for drinking young, capturing the grape’s crisp orchard fruit and delicate aromatics rather than chasing richness or oak. Light, dry and refreshing, it is exactly the sort of bottle that earns its keep in the fridge door.

Very pale straw with green highlights, opening with Nashi pear, green apple and white peach. Lemon zest and delicate white flowers add lift, followed by a little fresh fennel and almond skin. The palate is crisp and clean, with pear and citrus fruit carried by bright acidity. A subtle savoury note appears towards the finish, leaving lemon peel, green apple and a gentle almond bite.

Salt and pepper calamari would disappear alarmingly quickly with this, alongside garlic prawns, spaghetti alle vongole, ricotta stuffed zucchini flowers or kingfish crudo with lemon and capers. Our pick is the calamari, straight from the fryer with plenty of lemon. Sometimes lunch really doesn't require a committee meeting.