Pinot Gris: Not Yo Mama's Pinot Grigio!

Viticulture & Viniculture

  • Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio depending upon which one is more familiar to you) is a hardy mutation of Pinot Noir. Although traditionally classified as a white grape it actually features dark skinned grapes that vary in color from blue to pink to grey to brown. The lends a coppery cast to most finished wines.
  • It ripens early, which gives it the higher acidity
  • It thrives in heavy dark soils
  • Occasionally it is fermented on its skins to make orange wines 
  • It rarely sees Malolactic Fermentation or oak aging to preserve acidity.

Common Characteristics

Something to keep in mind is that Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are almost completely different wines, even though they are biologically the same grape. 

 Pinot GrigioPinot Gris
Regions Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli, Trentino, IT; California,; Alsace, Fr, Oregon, Washington
Color Pale Straw Pale Gold
Aromas Dusty mineral, faint citrus and honeycrisp apple (think Flinstones Vitamins!) Ripe pears, orange blossom, honeysuckle, baked macintosh apples, spice
Body Medium light to medium  Medium to full
Acidity  Medium minus to medium  Medium to medium plus
Alcohol  Medium  Meedium to medium minus
Flavors  Lean, refreshing- crisp citrusy & dry subtle lemon zest & acidity  Ripe flavors mirror the aromas, fuller body, juicy, mineral driven
Favorite Producers Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio
Terlano Pinot Grigio
Cooper Mountain Pinot Gris; Trimbach Pinot Gris

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