Pinot grigio vs Pinot gris
Pinot grigio and gris are both wines made from the same grape variety. Which is part of the Pinot family. However, they are known by different names and have some distinct characteristics.
Staring with Pinot gris, this term is commonly used in France and other parts of the world such as Oregon (USA), Australia and New Zealand. Pinot gris from these regions tends to exhibit more richness body, and complexity. The grapes are usually harvested later in the season, allowing them to develop more sugars and flavours. This results in a wine with fuller, a greater textural mouthfeel, deeper aromatics, and a range of ripe flavours that can typically be expressed as: nashi pear, green, or red apple, peach, yellow nectarine, honey and sometimes hints of spice such as white pepper.
On the other hand, pinot grigio is an Italian term used for the same grape variety, but typically refers to the lighter, crisper, and refreshing style of wine. In Italy grigio is often made with an early harvest, lending it to higher acidity and lighter fruit flavours. These wines can display characteristics of lemon, lime, green apple, and sometimes even a touch of mineral notes.
In terms of viticultural practices, it’s important to note that winemaking styles can vary within each region. Techniques such as temperature control (during fermentation), leave plucking, testing the Baume of select parcels throughout the growing time, oak aging and a multitude of other winemaking techniques contribute to the overall finished wines.
Our 2023 Pinot Grigio (single-site, from our King Valley vineyard) does just this, it’s a leaner, light-bodied wine, with wild lime, lemon, and crisp apple nuances. Perfect for a pre-dinner aperitif – exciting your palate and readying it for the next meal. Versus our 2023 Pinot Gris (single site, from our Alpine Valley vineyard) exudes elegance, floral notes, and a richer, textural wine. Ripe fruit phenolics rise from the glass as you enjoy this wine with more complex dishes and celebrations.
A quick grape-hack…or perhaps a cheat’s guide to remembering which is which: Remember, Gris is a richer (think gris’ s = $), fuller-bodied experience, with Grigio being a leaner, lighter, more crisp profile to its richer cousin.