(PEE-noh gree/GREE-jee-oh)
While Pinot Grigio is in fact the same grape as Pinot Gris (just the Italian take on it), the differences of wine they create can be immense. Pinot Gris' most popular and successful region is Alsace, France, an area of the country that actually puts the name of the grape on the label. Pinot Grigio is the Italian version of the grape, known for its light, crisp acidity. But wines from other regions usually term their wine Pinot Gris or Grigio based on the wine's flavor profile.
Notable Facts
Pinot Gris from Alsace creates rich, stone fruit-laden wines. They are perfumed
and aromatic, and typically dry. It has round body and medium acidity. Take the
grape a bit south to Italy, and it creates a very crisp, high-acid, citrus noted
wine. Both are flavorful, but wine named Pinot Gris typically provides more body and rounder
fruits while Pinot Grigio gives lighter-bodied, citrus fruits. Oregon and California
are also growing the grape, Oregon having success with a more Alsacian style
and California producing both. Winemakers often call the wine by the style they
wish to replicate - for Italian style, look for Pinot Grigio, for the Alsacian
style, look for Pinot Gris. In Alsace, Pinot Gris can also makes wine with some residual sugar. It's capable
of creating delicious dessert wines in the region.
Summing it up
Successful Sites: Alsace, Italy, Oregon, California
Common Descriptors: peach, pear, floral, citrus