Pinot Grigio (in a box)

My dad's house white

I don’t do bud break photos. Boring — and that’s for Instagram. But bud break is an indication that Spring is here and the warmer weather is coming. Which means more white wine and rosé. So why not talk about my Dad’s favorite white wine Pinot Grigio.

No, I don’t make Pinot Grigio. I make Chardonnay and Rosé.

I’m more fascinated with the ease and drinkability of Pinot Grigio, as made in Italy and the dominant style in California, not Pinot Gris made in Oregon and France, which can be more serious winemaking.

Here’s a snapshot of my dad’s refrigerator and a box of Pinot Grigio along with a bottle of my rosé.

My dad is 80 and a devoted wine drinker; Bota Box Pinot Grigio is his house white —he’s a Bota Box Pinot Grigio loyalist. When Fresno turns up the heat, think 90-110 F, which is generally from late May through September, boxed Pinot Grigio, Mastro Scheidt Rosé and Michelob Ultra are the cold beverages of choice.

I know, my Dad drinks out of a box. Likely, you are having thoughts:

1. What a horrible (winemaker) son I am allowing my father to drink wine out of a box.

2. My dad has a pedestrian palate.

Neither are true.

Naturally, number one can’t be true, my father can drink whatever wine of mine he’d like, he chooses to drink Bota Box Pinot Grigio as his preferred white wine. I get it, Chardonnay can just be a little too heavy, same as an IPA (hence the Ultra).

Delicato makes Bota Box. Yes, Dad is quite specific choosing Bota Box when it comes to box wine. He’s tried others and he doesn’t like them. Hats off to the team at Delicato.

As for number two — pedestrian palate — also not true. Dad doesn’t nuance much, in life or what he drinks. If he doesn’t like the wine he’s drinking, he’ll say it, regardless of winemaker or price. It’s a straightforward “Up” or “Down” system. Keeps things simple.

Bota Box Pinot Grigio and my Rosé have received an ‘Up’ vote, therefore, we are in the rotation.

I suppose follow-up questions would be, “Have I tasted the Bota Box Pinot Grigio? And as a winemaker, what do I think?”

Yes, I have had it over the years and it’s a consistent drinking California Pinot Grigio that doesn’t taste like an acid or a sugar bomb, so it’s balanced and without noticeable flaws. Delicato didn’t infuse it with peaches or mango or some other nonsense, it’s true to the spirit of an Italian Pinot Grigio. I realize that’s more of a clinical assessment than my Father’s ‘Up’ vote, but it’s basically an ‘Up’ vote.

Wine doesn’t need to be complicated. It needs to be cold when it’s 105 in Fresno, it needs to taste good, and it needs to keep tasting good glass after glass. Dad figured that out a long time ago. The “Up/Down” system works.