When the cherry tree blossoms over my city street with a lush canopy of pink, the neighbors reemerge onto the sidewalk after their long hibernation with chairs and wineglasses in hand.
It’s time again to hang out al fresco with old friends, and to pour something light, bright and affordable.
But that doesn’t have to mean “boring.”
Try this 2010 Mastro Bianco, an excellent entry-level white from one of my favorite southern Italian wineries, venerable Mastroberardino, and it’s been marked down 35 percent from list price in Pennsylvania, to $12.99.
It’s a crisp and delicate blend of several exotic and ancient white grapes from Campania — Greco di Tufo, Falanghina, Fiano di Avellino, Coda di Volpe — that come together with an accessible balance of floral and juicy citrus notes, with an ever-so-light finish of bitter almond. It’s a perfect sipper for light fare (pasta salad) or simply prepared seafood (grilled shrimp or fish.)
