As an unabashed food first, then pick the wine, here is what occurred. We had fried chicken, potato salad, and green beans with tomato sauce. I needed a white with some body, some acid, but no oak. I thought first of Cloudy Bay or Brancott, but had a better idea. We chose 2003 A to Z Pinot Gris. The wine by itself would make a great aperitif. This wine is dry, crisp, and mouth filling. Since I drank it with food the best I can do is this:
The creaminess of the Pinot Gris matched well with the oily, fried chicken. The chicken came through as well as the wine. The potato salad had a good dose of mayonnaise and the PG did not punk out. With the green beans and the tomato sauce, the PG had the acidity to stand up to the tomatoes without overwhelming the green beans. Pinot Gris from Oregon is a very food friendly wine. This particular one at USD 13 was an exemplar.
-- The journey is the reward.