Wines For The Calorie Conscious

If you are watching the waistline, Mezzacorona Ventessa has low calorie wines that you may enjoy pairing with diet dishes. 

The 2025 Pinot Grigio is from the Vignetti delle Dolomiti IGT, in the Dolomite Mountains. The term ventessa is described as a delicate wind that blows through the Alpine vineyards. The grapes are sustainably farmed and the wine is vegan and gluten free. Alcohol for both the white and the rosé versions are very low, at 9% abv and they retail for $11. 

This white wine has a pale straw tint in the glass. It's very clear. The nose is fruity and floral, the way you expect a Pinot Grigio to smell. The palate shows stone fruit, hints of citrus, and a note of minerality. It's not terribly complex, but it is tasty. Pair it with salads, seafood, or just sip it. 

The 2025 Mezzacorona Ventessa Rosé is also made from Pinot Grigio, just with more skin contact for the pink color. It shows more red fruit notes, but stays pretty much in the same lane of the white wine.

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An Alpine Red Wine From Northern Italy

White wines from the northern part of Italy are fantastic, but here is an Alpine red wine.

From Vigneti della Dolomiti IGT, in the Trentino-Alto Adige of northern Italy, the grapes for this wine are Schiava. They are also known as Trollinger or Vernatsch, depending on where you are at the time. Schiava grapes likely originated in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, as their growth has been recorded there since the 13th century. Alcohol hits a moderate 12% abv and it sells for less than $10 at Trader Joe's.

The 2024 Vola Schiava is light red, with a rusty tint to it. The nose has aromas of blackberries, plums, and blueberries, with a savory dash of earth. The palate is a fruity as you’d like, with strawberry, current, and licorice red rope flavors. The tannins are somewhat soft, which makes for a good sipping wine. Chill it for a hot summer day on the patio.

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