Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011: Wine

It never fails to surprise me regarding the variety and quality of wines I can find in our local wineries.  I found this Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011 at the recommendation of someone at the Wine & Rose’s Spa Resort & Restaurant in Lodi California.  Ok, I admit, I was also drawn to their beautiful logo.

The Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011 is a lovely and refreshing Pinot Grigio.  It was a very nice compliment to our meals of Sea Bass and Bay Scallops.  It’s a wine I’ll be offering to my friends at our next gathering.

Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 

Cycles Gladiator Wines are part of the Hahn Family Wines & the  Hahn Estates.  The winery is located in the Sacramento River Delta Region and sits in the fertile farmlands of Lodi, just south of Sacramento, California.  Lodi has been a grape-growing region since the 1850’s, now home to more than 80,000 acres of premium varietals and more than 50 wineries.  It is quickly becoming recognized as one of California’s most exciting wine appellations.  It is a great place to find some unique boutiques wineries and spend some time wine tasting.

Here, are some interesting facts about this beautiful label.  The original art or poster was created for Gladiator Bicycle Company, one of the first bicycle manufacturers of its time. They commissioned G. Massias to create advertising posters to promote their bicycle. The advertising posters depicted a nude nymph flying with her winged bicycle. Only four of these beautiful, original posters exist today.

That artwork now graces the bottles of Cycles Gladiator Wines. The mythological image of the nymph riding her winged bicycle is meant to symbolize a celebration of the freedom, happiness and the uninhibited beauty of their Lodi vineyards.

In 2009, Alabama banned Cycles Gladiator Wines because of the nude nymph on their label for indecency… Really! I guess Alabama doesn’t appreciate the classic 19th-century poster art of this gorgeous wine.

The Lodi Wine region’s claim to fame in the winemaking world is it’s classic Mediterranean climate and its deep, fertile sandy loam soils, the perfect environment for the production of world-class wines. The high daytime temperatures are moderated by cooling Delta breezes that flow through the area in the evenings.  This creates an ideal growing condition for many varieties of grapes.

Along with their Pinot Grigio, Cycles Gladiator Wines also has some great Cabernets, Petite Sirahs, and Zinfandels. The new Cycles Gladiator Winery and Visitor Center is located in one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Lodi.  For more information, check out their website.

This what the winemaker has to say about this Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011:

“An initial swirl brings out aromas of pear and apple blossom.

This bright and lively wine is perfect for everyday celebrations or as a summertime aperitif. While a sip reveals a spritz of effervescence complemented by flavors of meyer lemon and clementine oranges. A refreshing bite of acidity gives this generous wine a crisp and clean finish. Use this crisp wine to prime the palate for a main course. Try serving with a simple antipasto platter; a salad of roasted chicken, baby spinach, mango and goat cheese; or an appetizer like fried calamari. It’s also a perfect companion for light seafood and pasta dishes, such as mussels with linguine and herbs.”

You can find this very reasonably priced wine on the Cycle Gladiator Wines website, amazon.com, total wine.com or any good wine purveyor.

So go give it a try.  This Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011 is a great light and refreshing wine for any season.  It will not disappoint.  When you purchase this Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio 2011, I would love to hear your thoughts.  Enjoy.