Pinot Grigio Wine Offers

About Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is another Italian success story having experienced a similar rise to fame that ‘Prosecco’ has enjoyed over the last two decades since 2004. This is due to its easy drinking style and therefore suitable for wine as an aperitif, being famously popularised in wine and cafe bars by ‘ladies who lunch’.

Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the French white grape variety called ‘Pinot Gris’, [a member of the Pinot Noir family] from Alsace and also formally from Burgundy where it originated and known then as ‘Fromenteau’ - It is also known by this name in the Languedoc region of southern France. It is important to distinguish that there is a stylistic difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris, and a producer will often choose the one that best suits the style.

The Italian Pinot Grigio is a lighter styled white with crisp, zesty and citrus fruits as the focus - It is often made to be easy-drinking. Pinot Gris on the other hand which tends to come from France, Germany, California and other ‘New World’ countries is richer, spicier and has a rounded texture. They often have honeyed notes and riper fruit.

The grape is normally distinguished by its greyish-blue colour, accounting for its original name Gris [meaning grey in French] but the grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. It is also the grape that is favoured for making ‘Orange Wine’ [wine left to mature longer on the grape skins to much beyond the colour of rose. However I feel that the pronunciation of the term ‘Grigio’ has maybe as much to do with its fashionable rise to stardom than just the wine itself, very Italian and therefore perceived as ‘very stylish’.

"Viticulture was first introduced into the Italian island of Sicily around 800 BC"

Nowadays, despite the generalised differences of New World and French Pinot Gris, these countries, particularly Australia, Argentina and California, now all have a number of producers who emulate this lighter style, even using the name ‘Grigio’ (not always) to capitalise upon this phenomenal Italian success story. Pinot Grigio is more prolific in northern Italy particularly in the ‘Veneto’ region where the wines here can sometimes be a little thin and lacking in character, this could be because of over planting. However it comes into its own in the defined areas ‘Friuli-Venezia’ and the ‘Alto Adige’ where leading producers have created some well rounded, elegant and mineral laden examples.

The Style Of Pinot Grigio

It is not so easy to describe all Pinot Grigio wines in a broad brush stroke manner as they vary so much, The most authentic examples come from Veneto, ‘Grigios spiritual home’ but those who like richer, spicy whites should without a doubt explore Pinot Gris from New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and California. You can also find many light Rose examples, known as Blush.

What to look for?

Here is a general overview of what you should look for:

The texture is worth noting also as it has very smooth, almost silk like overtones that leave a longer finish on the palate as a welcome surprise.

Matching Pinot Grigio with Food

Pinot Grigio is such a light wine in general so goes with fish and seafood dishes really well. Simple grilled chicken or pork are most suitable and of course vegetarian dishes are admirably complimented, such as an Italian Vegetable Torte – made with asparagus, courgettes and spinach, decorated with shavings of Parmesan cheese, or try Polenta with Wild Mushrooms.

Milder flavoured Pizzas and light pasta dishes will also fit well with this wine.

But I feel that Pinot Grigio really comes into its own as a stylish wine to be enjoyed just by itself and with friends either in a bar or before a meal at home or in a restaurant, but if your are deciding to eat, think light, think Italian and always remember “That a good wine is a wine shared”