Pinot Grigio, a native of the Burgundy region but cultivated worldwide, is a grey-pink-violet grape variety that produces expressive whites with good alcohol content. Introduced in Italy to relaunch white wine production, it has become an important protagonist of the country's wine scene over time, especially in the Friuli, Veneto, and South Tyrol regions, where it produces some of its best expressions. The Grand Cru wines of Alsace are famous and are prestigious labels that stand at the forefront of the typology, together with the wines from the Mosel Valley in Germany. These wines include pinot gris and grigio, which are white wines with a golden colour and pink highlights, an intense bouquet, and a full, mellow flavour with a slightly bitter aftertaste. These characteristics have made Pinot Grigio wine popular worldwide, making it the ideal choice for unforgettable gastronomic experiences with fish, vegetables, cheese, and foie gras.
Pinot Grigio, a native of the Burgundy region but cultivated worldwide, is a grey-pink-violet grape variety that produces expressive whites with good alcohol content. Introduced in Italy to relaunch white wine production, it has become an important protagonist of the country's wine scene over time, especially in the Friuli, Veneto, and South Tyrol regions, where it produces some of its best expressions. The Grand Cru wines of Alsace are famous and are prestigious labels that stand at the forefront of the typology, together with the wines from the Mosel Valley in Germany. These wines include pinot gris and grigio, which are white wines with a golden colour and pink highlights, an intense bouquet, and a full, mellow flavour with a slightly bitter aftertaste. These characteristics have made Pinot Grigio wine popular worldwide, making it the ideal choice for unforgettable gastronomic experiences with fish, vegetables, cheese, and foie gras.
The history of pinot gris, one of the most widely planted varieties in the world, seems to have its origins in a spontaneous genetic modification of its ancestor, the Black variety. The characteristics of the pinot gris grape are its traditional pinkish-grey, almost coppery appearance and the fact that the grape cluster is never found in abundance on the plant. Only a few small fruits are produced. The berry favours only specific environments to ripen fully, concentrating its authentic flavour to perfection. This makes it ideal for cold environments.
This variety produces one of the most expressive white wines in the world and one of the best areas for its production is the region of Alsace. Legend has it that around 1565, Baron Lazare de Schwendi, a servant of the noble house of Austria, brought home vines from the city of Tokaj in Hungary after the war with the Turks. This precious product was already known then and coveted by almost every wine connoisseur. Various ampelographers claim that the vine imported by the Baron was not the same as the Hungarian variety. The Grauer Tokayer, the name by which this variety was once identified, is a vine originating in Burgundy and not from the land of the Hungarians, as was once thought.
Italian pinot grigio has found its ideal habitat in the northern regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and South Tyrol. Brilliant producers of Italian pinot gris from Friuli often vinify it following the most ancient traditions. They use the technique of maceration on the skins and exalt the minerality and freshness that, particularly in the Collio area, distinguish these interpretations, thereby elevating them to essential levels.
The chromatic and structural characteristics typical of these grapes can also be recognized in the wines obtained from their fermentation. In the cellar, there are two routes followed by the winemakers: either the must is left to ferment in contact with the skins, obtaining a more structured result with a complex aromatic profile, or, as is more often the case, the grapes are vinified without maceration, or at most through a brief cryo-maceration, in steel tanks. Rarely does the wine undergo further ageing in wooden containers. A great example of the second type of production is the pinot grigio rose, which produces light-coloured, floral wines. Another notable producer is Oyster Bay pinot gris from New Zealand, which has achieved international recognition for its clean and crisp wines.
The same techniques are also widespread in Alsace and Germany, the birthplace of notable examples of pinot gris wine. In Germany, the vine is known as Rülander and is included, as in France, among the vines allowed to be classified as Grand Cru if vinified alone. In the same areas, there are also late-harvest versions or versions obtained from botrytis cinerea, which is a noble rot that only develops in certain regions. A notable feature of the wines from Alsace is their more opulent and rounded personality, which is achieved thanks to the residual sugar not being fully developed, resulting in delightful and fascinating interpretations. The French pinot gris exemplifies this rounded style.
At an early age, pinot grigio white wine has a colour that varies from greenish yellow to a more developed golden yellow, reaching a vivid, baroque bronze colour with a concentrated appearance as it matures. Whispers of underbrush may emerge on the nose here and there, accompanied by hints of musk, dried fruit, and apricot. It also acquires smoky characteristics depending on the type of vinification chosen. There are also pleasant hints of honey and beeswax on a background of flowers and balsamic tones. The taste is graceful in its youth, with a slightly bitter finish that is never predictable. The mineral pedigree and very fresh texture envelop the palate with great personality. The acidic component maintains an enviable balance as it ages, making it well-suited for longevity. It is highly complex during tasting if enjoyed a few years later. The aroma is distinctive, with notes that are edgy but never out of place, and a pleasant spicy touch that gives an extra kick to the tasting experience. A good pinot gris can deliver this experience effortlessly.
If you're wondering, "Is pinot gris the same as pinot grigio?" the answer lies in regional variations. While both refer to the same grape, pinot gris is typically used for wines from cooler climates, like pinot gris in New Zealand, France or pinot gris in Australia, while pinot grigio is usually associated with the Italian style.
Enhance your meal by pairing Pinot Grigio with the following:
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