Drink of the Week: Ramona Amarino Spritz

Pairing a bottle of wine with a delicious meal is a given, but it’s my belief that cooking a delicious meal also requires a glass of wine in hand. But holiday meals are a marathon, not a sprint. If I’m spending the bulk of my day in the kitchen, I need something a little lighter and more refreshing than a 14-percent Cab Sauv. Enter Ramona Amarino Spritz.

The newest release from sommelier Jordan Salcito‘s line of wine-based canned spritzes, the Ramona Amarino leans more in the direction of a classic aperitif with drier, slightly bitter flavors. Made in Italy with organic wine grapes—primarily Zibibbo from western Sicily in this case—the Amarino is refreshingly tart and juicy, with just enough sweetness to balance. It finishes crisp and dry with flavors of bitter orange and a hint of savory herbs. Coming in at a very drinkable 5 percent ABV, the Amarino can easily carry me from pie prep to placing the gravy on the table. $20/4-pack, drinkramona.com