November 5, 2009

2008 Contadino Pinot Grigio Vivace - $4.99

With some unexpected bubbles on the pour, this light colored white wine hits the nose with loads of toasted coconut and toasted pineapple, like a relaxing Hawaiian vacation. Tropical on the tongue as well with both lemony and acidic flavors.

thumbs up - 87

edit: added 'Vivace' to the title to distinguish this from the non-sparkling version

27 comments:

  1. That sounds intriguing! What would you eat with this?

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  2. Scallops, I think. Which reminds me that I need to work on my scallop cooking.

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  3. The great thing about this wine.... is what it's not. Simple, clean, in a frizzante style, A light maloactic secondary fermentation gives the wine character. Think "skinny jeans" a black t-shirt and a single strand of pearls...
    Fun, easy-going, style without someone taking themselves too serious... You buy a case for the summer house or if your in the mood to be "silly" with someone you enjoy....

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  4. I bought this wine in November and it was a tall, thin bottle, screw top, wine was slightly bubbly and wonderful. Now I go back and the bottle is a standard wine bottle, it's corked, no bubbles, and tastes completely different (don't like at all). What's up? Is the taller, bubbly bottle still available?

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    1. I'd guess you bought another Contadino Pinot Grigio, which is still. No frizzante. I'm enjoying it right now. Same wine (or very similar--simple, clean) but without the adorable bubbly.
      ck

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  5. Contadino makes 2 versions of pinot grigio available at Trader Joe's - the one you want is the Frizzante version (the label says frizzante on it). The frizzante is the taller, thin bottle screw top that you mention. It's getting harder to find, as it is immensely better (in my pov) than the non frizzante version. In fact, like you, I hate the non frizzante version. I put in a request for my trader joe's (in columbus oh) to order more around thanksgiving time, have yet to hear back though. bummer - such a good wine for the price

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  6. TJs stopped carrying it in California. I have been to 3 and they all say discontinued. Im very sad because this wine was perfect for so many occasions.

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  7. Just checked the local Trader Joe's in Portland, OR and they are still carrying this Vivace (lightly sparkling) version as well as the non sparkling wine of the same name.

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  8. Just bought a bottle of this today, at the Silverlake Trader Joe's in Los Angeles. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. I just bought a bottle at the Pacific Grove CA TJ's, loved it!!

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  10. Picked up a bottle at the Chatsworth TJ over the weekend. Great recommendation!

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  11. OMG THIS WINE IS AMAZING. I have become addicted We took some to a friend at Christmas and it got pushed to the back of her wine refrig. and just discovered. She usually doesn't like sparkling wines at all and few whites. We've made her a fan Its like a chain reaction.

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  12. I just bought a bottle of this at my Trader Joe's in Lincoln Park in Chicago. It's quite quite nice for the price and very light and fruity. I wish it was still warm outside because this would be an excellent wine outside on the patio.

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  13. I have found the sparkling version at TJ in Newport News, VA. It is wonderful much better than the non sparkling one.

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  14. This has become my go-to party white wine of late. My only gripe is that the foil is a bit hard to remove, but that's getting pretty petty.

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  15. I've found this several times at our local Silicon Valley TJ's...served it with lemon and oregano marinated lamb kebabs with feta and yogurt sauce and it was perfect.

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  16. TJ's in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle still carries it. It's perfect for Girl's Night In, something light with dinner, and I'll be serving it at a co-ed baby shower coming up. Great find and price is a steal.

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  17. I really liked this wine. The lable doesn't say "frizzante", although that is the style. It says. Vivace in small letters at the bottom of the front label. There are also bubbles on the front lable.

    I served this with chicken and it was perfect!

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  18. I bought the non-frizzante one at TJ's in Fremont CA. It tasted very good with fish and potato salad and spicy scallop fried rice. With the price $3.99, this wine is amazing!! After read others' comments, I will go ahead to buy the frizzante version tomorrow. :-)

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  19. I bought this wine from TJ's and tried to see other people's comment on this wine, then I found your blog. It's amazing that you reviewed lots of wine from TJ's. Thanks a lot!!

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  20. Found this lovely, lightly frizzante wine at TJs in Portland--a new favorite summer wine at a super price point.

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  21. I brought the sparkling version of this wine at the TJs in San Francisco doing the thanksgiving weekend and my partner loved it. I'm going back to get a case and save it for next summer.

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  22. Still going strong here in Portland, just picked up a Vivace bottle after getting the still version accidentally
    from another TJ's here in town that didn't seem to have
    the bubbly version. Glisan has the Vivace!

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  23. Was looking for a white wine for a dinner party and picked this one up at a Seattle TJ's just judging on the fact that it had a few less in stock than the other ones (and I was looking for a pinot grigio in particular). GREAT to see that it has good reviews on this blog and awesome reviews in the responses! Looking forward to it!

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  24. I ran out and went to my local Trader Joe's for more and found that they can no longer can get it. My favorite and also liked by friends that I have served it to. I hope that they get it back and soon.

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  25. I use it as a starter wine with appetizers such as blue cheese crumbles with pear flat bread and yogi dip with jalapenos and cilantro served with dill wheat thins. Compliments nicely -

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