Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio, the light-bodied fruity white wine from Italy, is extremely popular in the United States for several reasons. It's usually inexpensive, easy to drink and widely-available. People know what it is and aren't afraid to buy it. But most of the budget Pinot Grigio available at restaurants and in grocery stores is pretty simple stuff. And that's fine if that's all you want.

But I get bored pretty easily and want something more going on when I sip a wine. That's why I look for wines labeled Pinot Gris instead of Pinot Grigio.

Actually Pinot Grigio is the Italian synonym for Pinot Gris, a grape that has its origins in France's Alsace region. Pinot Gris, a natural genetic cousin of Pinot Noir, Pinot is French for pine, which describes the pine-cone shape of the grape clusters. Gris is French for gray, referring to the grape's grayish hue.

The grape is also grown in the United States, primarily in California, Washington and Oregon. The labeling of a domestic wine with the name Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio often indicates if the wine is made in the Italian or French style.

In contrast to wines labeled Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris wines tend to be richer and more complex   whites that can have concentrated aromas of flowers, almonds and honey. These are bigger-bodied wines best served with food.

Among my favorite domestic Pinot Gris are those produced by J Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma. The winery makes three, and its basic Pinot Gris from California is fairly easy to find in St. Louis. I always keep an eye out for sales at Schnucks when it drops to $15. This is a fresh, crisp wine that tastes of pears, tropical fruit and a touch of honey. It finishes with nice, clean citrus with minerality.

Well-balanced, this is a flavorful wine that goes with many foods, but I find it particularly good with spicy Asian cuisine.

A new find for me is the La Crema 2012 Pinot Gris from Monterey, which I tasted for my May 28th column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I bought the wine at Sam's Club for $15.98. This is a delightful, easy-to-drink Pinot Gris that’s fresh and lively with lots of finesse. It has a lovely floral aroma with layers of fresh juicy peach, pear and apple with some lemon and hints of bakery spice.

On the budget side, Oregon's King Estate Acrobat label is always a winner and the Pinot Gris is often on sale. When I find it under $10, I always stock up.

Next week, I'll be tasting a Pinot Gris from Israel for the first time. It's from the Dalton Winery and comes from the Upper Galilee. Stay tuned.


#pinotgrigio #pinotgris
#wine