I’ll admit that I was initially attracted to this wine because of the bottle. It’s long, it’s sleek and it just looks stylish. Carry this bottle out of the store and you will feel sassy. Don’t be surprised if you even hear Europop start pounding in your head.

And it tastes good, too! What what!

Voga is an Italian pinot grigio that I’ve seen in most beer and wine stores I’ve been in in Maryland. At between about $10.99 and $12.99 a pop, it’s pretty affordable.

And true to typical Italian-style pinot grigio, this wine features a very fruity grape taste, and is exceptionally light and crisp. It has a hint of yeast (in both taste and in scent), and a citrusy finish. It has an understated taste and is not overpowering.

This wine paired really well some some buffalo chicken pizza and also served as a nice happy hour drink before dinner. My guess is it would also make your tastebuds sing if you paired it with an Italian meal.

When a family friend with a reputation as a wine, food and clothing afficionado brought several bottles of Mark West Chardonnay 2005 to Thanksgiving dinner, he handed them to me and said, “This is the good stuff.”

Yes, yes it is.

While Mark West doesn’t break the bank at $11 to $15 a pop depending where you buy it, it tastes fantastic. Some white wines – particularly the cheaper ones – can have a taste that verges on rubbing alcohol, but this vino has a good balance of acidity and goes down nice and smooth–perfect after a long day.

This chardonnay is light and crisp, with a hint of pear and–SURPRISE!–grape. It is uncomplicated and tastes great as a glass by itself, with chicken and fish, and even with Thanksgiving dinner.