Ah, white wine, it's delicious. So delicious, we started our own wine company so we can drink more of it. It's the refreshing drink of wine lovers everywhere. And for obvious reasons, it's typically light and crisp.
But, let us ask you this: if we blindfolded you, would you tell the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris? (Don't worry, we won't do that to you) Let's talk about why you might be able to and why you might not be able to.
Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio: What’s The Difference?
Prepare to face the cold, hard truth: Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same types of wine made from the same white wine grapes—Pinot Gris grapes. So, to answer Juliet's profound question of, "What's in a name?" we're going to say, a whole lot of lies and confusion!
Believe It Or Not, They Come From The Same Grape
Yes: Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris wines come from the same white grape variety. The grapes have a grayish-brown skin, which is why Gris and Grigio are French and Italian for the word 'grey.' One of them must have some sort of Copyright infringement, but that is neither here nor there!
Regardless of where it's grown, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio share the same bright acidity and citrus flavors in their flavor profiles. Pinot Grigio tends not to be as sweet as other wines due to its high acidity and mask for easy drinking.
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are also related to a few other wine types that you have likely sipped on. Can you guess which ones? Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. So, if you think about the Pinot family on a spectrum, you can put the dark red, Pinot Noir, on one side and white on the other and the greys in the middle. Pinot Noir is a dry, light but medium bodied red wine. As we discussed, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are bright, light to medium-bodied white wines. Lastly, Pinot Blanc is a clear, semi-dry white wine.
Location Matters
The difference in the names of these varietal wines is due to their region and subsequently, their creation style. Pinot Grigio wines are Italian and therefore, created in an Italian style. If you’re keen on getting into the specifics, Pinot Grigios are more specifically from northeastern Italy in wine regions that include Friuli and Alto Adige. Pinot Gris, on the other hand, are French and made in a French style. Specifically, they come from the Burgundy region and the Alsace region of France.
Where Else Can These Wines Be From?
Other less famous places make Pinot Grigio, too, like California and Oregon in the new world, Australia and New Zealand, and other European countries like Germany and Austria, where it may be called Grauburgunder. These places may be more famous for wines like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, but they can still make a great Pinot.
What’s a Pinot Gris Like?
Typically, when compared to Pinot Grigio, the Pinot Gris style is fuller-bodied and have a slightly spicier texture, and happen to have a more significant aging potential.
How About A Pinot Grigio?
Lighter-bodied, crisp, and filled with floral and stone fruit aromas, Pinot Grigio is delicious. But since we’re passionate about this subject, we’ll go more in depth.
There are three main types of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris: minerally & dry, fruity & dry and fruity & sweet.
Knowing the three different types is something you can guess blindfolded. Here are some suggested keywords you can use while explaining the wines: 'lack of fruit flavor with high minerality' (referring to minerally & dry), "very fruity" (referring to fruity & dry), and "lots of texture and maximum flavor" (referring to fruity & sweet). Here is what you need to know about each.
Lack of Fruit Flavor or Minerally Dry Pinot Grigio: Well known for coming from Northern Italy (so a cool climate), minerally and dry Pinot Grigio is often produced in stainless steel tanks and has lower alcohol levels. Pro tip: try this delicious drink with french fries and a warm day. You can thank us later.
Very Fruity or Fruity and Dry Pinot Grigios have lemon, green apple, and peach aromas. Because of these fruits in the aroma, one can tell that these wines were grown in a more sun-friendly climate. These wines are typically less acidic and have more of an oily texture than other wines. This is due to winemakers adding a special bacteria after the wine fermentation that practically eats the sharp acids and creates smooth acids. For our scientists out there, this process is called Malolactic Fermentation. Malic being the harsh acid and lactic being the oily acid. In general, these wines are created of stainless steel and are not as aged as much. They go awesome with shellfish appetizers, if you're looking for a good pairing.
Lots of texture and maximum flavor, or Fruity and Sweet Pinot Grigio are a sweet Pinot Grigio style filled with flavors of sweet lemon and apples. To produce these types of wines, winemakers use an advanced technique to create texture. These techniques often include using late harvest and noble rot grapes to increase the flavor potential.
But what kind of Pinot Gris/Grigio is our favorite kind? Bev of course! Bev Gris is our girl and she’s ready to meet you (or see you again) when you are! She is super bright, extra fizzy with light and refreshing notes of elderflower, pear and a zesty grapefruit finish. Salivating yet? Or is that just us? (Don’t answer that) The best part about our girl Bev Gris? She comes to you! Head to our site to order and she’ll show up on your front door!
And since we talked about the Pinot family as a whole, don’t forget to try our other Pinots, Bev Noir and Bev Blanc. Both are equally as delicious but entirely different personalities. Lucky for you, we sell all of our girls in variety packs so you can give them a taste and see which one speaks to your soul best.
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