Varietals - Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris, is a centuries-old mutation of Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio grows successfully under the same conditions. Pinot Grigio is visually identical to Pinot Noir except for its light blue-gray color. When fermented on the skins like Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio will produce a salmon colored wine known as “orange wine.” Pinot Grigio is almost always made as white wine with little skin contact during fermentation.

 

Pinot Grigio is grown in Burgundian vineyards along with Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. While never bottled as a varietal Burgundian wine, Pinot Grigio may be used in small amounts to soften red Burgundy wines. French labeling laws do not require such infusions of Pinot Grigio to be stated.

 

The lion’s share of Pinot Grigio available worldwide hails from Italy, most notably Alto Adige and Trentino. Italian Pinot Grigio is usually simple and inexpensive. In Alsace, Pinot Grigio becomes one of the world’s great dessert wines. These Pinot Grigio wines were called Tokay Pinot Gris until the Hungarians insisted that the name Tokay belonged to them. Alsatian labels usually do not indicate style so it can be difficult to know whether you are buying a dry or sweet Pinot Grigio. 

 

New World Pinot Grigio finds its most successful home in the vineyards of California and Oregon (where it’s called Pinot Gris). Oregon Pinot Gris is one of the best values in high quality Pinot Grigio wine today.

 

The typical aroma and flavor of Pinot Grigio includes peach, pear, red apple, melon and almond. Pinot Grigio is medium to light-bodied, moderately acidic, and Pinot Grigio is easy to drink.

 

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