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Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio
This Friday it's Pinot Gris Day, aka Pinot Grigio Day, so we’re diving into these two (one? 😉) grapes and their respective wines.
What's in a Name?
First things first, let's address the elephant in the room - the name! Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are actually the same grape variety – both coming from the Pinot family. and sharing much of the same DNA as Pinot Noir.
Gris is the grape’s French term and Grigio is the Italian term for the grape.
Similarities Galore
Both Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are known for their light to medium body and refreshing citrus notes. The higher levels of acidity in both wines mean they pair well with a variety of dishes, hence their popularity.
Is Pinot Gris / Grigio red or white?
While these grapes are typically used to make white wines, the grapes are actually a very light-colored red. It's unique grape-skin color ranges from a translucent green to a pale pink, allowing winemakers to produce many different styles and colors.
Scroll down for a rosé made from Pinot Gris! 👇
Differences to Sip on
Style – Pinot Grigio is typically made in a lighter, crisper style, with flavors of green apple and lemon. And Pinot Gris tends to be richer and slight more full-bodied, with flavors of ripe pear, peach, and honey.
Origin – As noted by their names, Pinot Grigio is typically associated with Italy and widely produced in the Alto Adige region. It’s also popular in places like California, Australia, Germany and Austria. Pinot Gris is more commonly found in France and this French style is often found in Oregon, Washington, and New Zealand.
Pairings – The richer style of Pinot Gris lends itself to bigger foods – creamy pastas, and harder cheeses like Parmigiano-Regiano or Pecorino. Alternatively Pinot Grigio is delicious starter, waking up your palate, or paired with lighter fare – shrimp cocktails, oysters, and even salads with a light, flaky fish.
How we're celebrating!
This week we're leaning into the French style (aka Pinot Gris) with a playful rosé from Oregon! 👉
A rosé that's really a white wine made like a red. The grapes were crushed and steeped on their skins for three weeks, giving a rich color to the final wine.
After apprenticing at wineries in Oregon and California, Vincent Fritzsche launched his own winery in 2009, focusing on low-input winemaking, using sustainably-farmed vineyards and producing small-batch wines by hand.
His unique process for this Pinot Gris Noir ("noir", get it?😉) gives an incredible, almost spongy character to the wine. Like berries and cream, with a buttery biscuit underneath.
