12 Wines for the Holidays: Cocktail Ready White

2016 Malabaila di Canale Favorita, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy $15

If you’re tired of your usual Pinot Grigio, Favorita is sure to become your new favorite. Favorita is an Italian grape grown primarily in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is closely related to Vermentino with some experts claiming it is one and indeed the same. The Malabaila family has been associated with the region as far back as 1362 with Lucrezia Carrega Malabaila serving as the 65th generation and current head of the winery. Their focus is on unique traditional grapes of the regions such as Favorita and Brachetto. Light-bodied and fresh in style with aromatic and fruit forward notes of apricots, peach pit and crushed minerals. It makes for a quaffable and easy-to-drink white wine for cocktail parties and pairs well wide array of dishes including hummus, crudite, shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon and crispy appetizers.

Available at Perman Wine Selections