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Pinot Grigio grape

Golden white grape clusters on the vine in Alto Adige, northern Italy

Photo: Manuel Venturini on Unsplash

White grape

Pinot Grigio is a white grape known for pear, citrus, almond. Its best-known homes are Veneto, Alsace, Oregon.

StyleWhite
Body●○○○○ (1/5)
FlavoursPear, citrus, almond
Key regionsVeneto, Alsace, Oregon
Food pairingLight seafood, antipasti

Origin and history

A colour mutation of Pinot Noir with greyish-pink skins; 'grigio' and 'gris' both mean grey.

Where it grows

Veneto, Friuli and Alto Adige in Italy, Alsace, Oregon, Germany (as Grauburgunder) and New Zealand.

Structure

Italian style: light body, crisp and neutral. Alsace style (Pinot Gris): fuller, richer and sometimes off-dry.

Aromas, young and aged

Italian style: lemon, green apple, pear and almond. Alsace style: ripe pear, honey, ginger and smoke.

Ageing

Italian style is for drinking young; Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris can age 10 years or more.

Also known as

Pinot Gris (France), Grauburgunder or Ruländer (Germany), Szürkebarát (Hungary).

Good to know

Left on its skins it makes 'ramato', a copper-coloured wine traditional in Friuli.

Wine regions for Pinot Grigio

Trentino-Alto AdigeFriuli-Venezia Giulia

Pinot Grigio wines to try

Real bottles from The Wine Library.

White · Italy · Diego's Selection

Specogna Pinot Grigio Ramato

Friuli-Venezia Giulia · Friuli Colli Orientali · Pinot Grigio

Skin-contact copper-coloured Pinot Grigio: pear, spice and texture.

Food: Charcuterie, risotto

White · Italy · Diego's Selection

Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio

Friuli-Venezia Giulia · Friuli Colli Orientali · Pinot Grigio

Structured Friuli Pinot Grigio: pear, almond and fresh finish.

Food: Fish, antipasti

Similar white grapes

Melon de BourgogneUgni BlancParelladaKoshuSauvignon BlancRieslingAlbariñoVerdejo

Explore all grapes in the interactive guide

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