Pinot gris and pinot grigio are considered summer wines, and are commonly paired with light foods. They are also both used widely in cooking to add a hint of flavor to foods like fish. They are produced from the same grape varieties, and are both white wines. With all the similarities, it might be difficult to believe that they are actually different wines, but while both pinot gris and pinot grigio possess similar qualities, many wine connoisseurs would argue that each is a unique and quite distinctive wine.
The Grape Variety
In French, “pinot” means “pinecone,” and “gris” means “gray.” Pinot gris and pinot grigio come from the same kind of grape, described as a “gray pinecone.” The grapes tend to have a grayish hue and are cone-shaped. Pinot gris grapes are clones of pinot noir, and can range in color from gray-blue to ash-yellow. The wine made from this variety has a light yellowy hue, and can taste differently from one wine maker to the next based on how it was produced. Some refer to it as citrusy, others consider it to taste like honey, while other still think it possesses smoky qualities.
Where the Grapes are Cultivated
This variety of wine grape is commonly grown in the lush Alsace region of France, where the microclimate, soil type, slope of the ground, as well as all the other variables that influence the quality of grapes is ideal. Some of the finest wines are made from grapes that are cultivated in this region. Pinot gris, however, are not unique to Alsace alone. They grow heartily throughout Friuli and Alto Adige, as well as in Lombardy and northern Italy.
Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: Similarities
- Both are considered summer wines.
- They can be used in cooking to enhance delicate flavors, like fish.
- They are both produced from the pinot gris variety of grapes.
- Production mostly takes place in Fruili, Italy and Alsace, France.
- While up for debate, the color is similar in nature and they are both considered white wine.
Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: The Difference Is the Taste
Wine connoisseurs describe pinot gris made from the Alsace region as possessing the aroma of sweet pastry with honey drizzled over top. While the aroma doesn’t determine the actual sweetness of the wine, it’s a nice beginning, to say the least. Sensory receptors on the human tongue taste sweet, salty, sour and bitter. The rest of the flavors humans perceive are largely aromatic and tactile. Wine that possesses sweet smells can trigger one to perceive it as tasting sweet.
Believe it or not, Oregon wineries produce a knock-your-socks-off pinot gris. It’s on the robust and exotic side when compared to the crisp, unassuming wines from Italy and France. The Oregon wines can be softer, more velvety, and offer more layers of flavor. Lychee, grassy herbs, floral honeysuckle, and cantaloupe are all flavors that can be tasted in this variety of pinot gris. It can also possess a light spice quality. Some describe it as having notes of coriander, allspice, and nutmeg. The flavor is as desirable as it is unique.
Pinot grigio wines on the other hand, are distinguished by their aromatic qualities, delicate taste, and often lemony notes. It is generally light and acidic, and produces tiny, delicate bubbles on the interior of a wine glass. In Italy, some winemakers have concocted a nice full bodied wine from the pinot gris grape. The Italian wine can sometimes have the flavor of melon, tropical fruit, and pear. A benefit to finding a good winery is that some can produce a consistent taste from vintage to vintage. Given all the variables that can impact grape quality, it is an admirable feat.
Knowing the Difference
The differences between pinot grigio and pinot gris can be subtle and unnoticed by those with palates demanding bolder flavors. Over time, however, one can perceive the differences in taste and sometimes in color.
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