Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris | pēnō ˈgrējō |
[noun]
In a sentence: If Pinot Gris makes an appearance at your party, simply consider it the fifth friend of the group – she’s sweet and unobtrusive but knows how to get the conversation flowing.
Featured: Pinot Gris, 2009, Domaine Blanck
Pinot Gris is a white grape, with a gray-pink skin – sort of like the colour of your granny’s light red curtains that have been sun-stained and faded for decades.
We always get one thing confused (as with most wine things, you’ll soon see that there are lots of mean little-homophones to trundle through), so let’s get one thing straight, right off the bat:
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are exactly the same grape variety, but (and this is key, kiddo) they have different wine styles. The only reason they are called marginally different names is because they are grown in two very fiercely patriotic countries – the bah oui, fraichement loving country known as France (Pinot Gris) and the bappity-booping Italia (Pinot Grigio).
The French Alsatian Pinot Gris are more full-bodied, richer, and can be off-dry, providing some delicate sweetness (yes, we’re big fans).They’re less popular than the current trophy wife of Italy, where they’re stunning Pinot Grigio is lighter, fresher and fruitier (just imagine the kind of aromas you’d smell when drinking a Bellini by the pool on a hot summer’s day). However, as with most grape varieties, today Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio grapes are planted all over the world.
