• Most of the time, too much energy is spent on worrying about food and wine pairings. But there is one food that is known as the enemy of wine, and that's asparagus!

• As a rule of thumb when the food has unique or exotic tastes, try a relatively neutral wine. The Italians are the kings of simple white wines and Pinot Grigio is their most popular. If you want a wine that will not steal the spotlight, try Pinot Grigio.

• Asparagus is a member of the lily family and has been a favorite since ancient times. There is even a recipe for cooking asparagus in the world's first cook book written by Apicius in the third century AD.

• The wine pairing problem lies in its chemistry. Asparagus contains compounds that have a distinct grassy flavor and can make most wines taste positively dank.

Vini di Bacco • 2007 • Pinot Grigio • 262674

Grape: Pinot Grigio

appearance - bright, clear

color : very light, faint wheat color, almost clear

aroma - strong

flavors (smell + taste)

sweetness - dry

acidity - crisp

oak - toast

fruit - apricot • grapefruit

earth - grass

body - medium

additional notes - fuller than you might expect

ViniCode™ expires - April 19, 2010