Pinot Grigio + Pinot Gris
A quick visual grape guide
Very quick guide
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape, but can be extremely different wines. The grape is a part of the Pinot family of grapes from France. Pinot Grigio is the name you will find on wines coming from Italy, but also from the United States and Australia. Pinot Gris is the name primarily referring to the wines coming out of Alsace, France and New Zealand.
The two names refer more to the style of the wine rather than where they are grown. Pinot Grigio wines are typically simple, light, acidic and refreshing. Pinot Gris wines have more complexity, can be dry to sweet, have less acidity and have a wide range of aromas and flavors. However, there are always exceptions to the “rules” in wine.
These grapes are often used to make skin contact wines, or orange wine. The color of the grape skin is beautiful, a grayish-blue with some pink hues coming through. If you want to learn a little more on orange wine, read this post from last year.
Pairing
Pinot Grigio wines pair well with salty food. The salt tames the acidity and really allows both the food and wine to taste even better together. Of course seafood is the obvious pairing for a Pinot Grigio as well. Try a grilled shrimp salad. Pinot Gris wines can stand up to a little more than just salt, try a creamy pasta dish, quiche or a parmesan crusted salmon dish. If you have a sweeter Pinot Gris go for a spicy dish.
