When it comes to bright, light, and refreshing white wine from Italy for summer sipping, the first grape that comes to mind is Pinot Grigio. The best examples typically come from Northern Italy and offer pure stone fruit flavors and tingly acidity. But these wines aren't the only refreshing Italian whites.

I recently had lunch with winemakers Andrea and Leonildo Pieropan. Their family pioneered winemaking in the Northern Italian region of Soave. Over plates of halibut crudo, grilled octopus and smoked trout, their Soave really shined, and I was reminded that many other Italian whites can be similarly great with warm-weather dishes.