Pinot Grigio: A Guide to the Basics

Pinot Gris, which is also known as Pinot Grigio, is one of the world's most well-known white grape varieties. Ironically, the best expressions of it — the age-worthy Grand Cru bottlings from Alsace and the increasingly compelling ones from Oregon's Willamette Valley — aren't the most famous. That title belongs to the often bulk-produced Pinot Grigios of northern Italy. These are among the most popular white wines in the world, and what they tend to lack in complexity and depth, they generally make up for in uncomplicated gulpability. Even though wine professionals tend to frown on those particular big-brand bottlings, they don't represent the whole story: Producers like Silvio Jermann and Cantine Terlan, among others, make Italian Pinot Grigio of serious accomplishment. In other words, the world of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are far more complicated, in the best possible sense, than they get credit for.

What is Pinot Grigio wine?

Pinot Gris, or Pinot Grigio as it's known in Italy and throughout much of the world, is a wine produced from the grape of the same name. Depending on where it's grown, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio can be crafted into cheap and cheerful bottles that sell for less than $10 and that provide the kind of uncomplicated wine pleasures associated so readily with the style: Citrus fruit, fresh acidity, and a relatively short finish that doesn't dominate the foods it's sipped alongside. Yet there are also plenty of producers who work real magic with the grape variety, crafting wines of serious accomplishment and refinement.

Where does Pinot Grigio wine come from?

Pinot Gris is most famously grown and produced in France's Alsace region, where it represents some of the finest bottlings, whether classified as Grand Cru or not. There, it can be found dry or sweet, and also plays an important role in many blends of sparkling Crémant d'Alsace. In Oregon, particularly the Willamette Valley, Pinot Gris is an increasingly important grape variety, producing wines of energy and refinement in equal measure. And in Italy, where it's known as Pinot Grigio, the grape variety is used for wines that range from mass-produced to single-vineyard gems that rank among the most exciting examples of the variety in the world. Pinot Gris is also seeing success in Washington State, California, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany.

Why should you drink Pinot Grigio wine?

In a world where grape-variety reputations seem to be so set in stone among the wine-drinking public, Pinot Gris has a notable ability to surprise and charm. Whether it's a cellar-worthy bottle of Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris, a shimmering, profoundly delicious single-vineyard Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige, or an inexpensive, uncomplicated bottle from a household-name brand, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are produced in a notable range of styles. For something really interesting, make sure to try a Pinot Grigio Ramato, which is crafted in contact with the grape skins, lending the finished wine an amber or rust-colored appearance — the word ramato in Italian is a reference to the copper-like color of the wine — and more nutty, stone-fruit-like aromas and flavors. The 2021 Conte Brandolini d'Adda Pinot Grigio Ramato is a lovely example of the style, full of energy and hints of hard apricots and cranberries, and under $20.

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are also excellent with food. More acid-zipped ones are amenable pairing partners to butter sauces, light fish and seafood, and even fresh vegetables. In their richer versions, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio can work nicely with lighter meats like chicken and veal, which lend them a fresh pop of acidity and fruit.

What does Pinot Grigio taste like?

High-quality examples of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio reflect the land in which the grapes were grown, which means that the individual Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace will each tend to produce wines of idiosyncratic character. The same goes for the top single vineyards of Alto Adige. Ambitious producers of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio generally strive to manifest the land, the vintage conditions, and their particular vision for each year's vinification, whereas the most volume-focused brands generally go for innocuous, fruit-forward white wines that are consistent year after year.

In general, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio showcase fruit on the citrus end of the spectrum, predominantly with lemon and lime. You might also find crisp apples like Granny Smith and hard pears. Hints of flowers like honeysuckle and citrus blossom are usually only present in the best examples.

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio should be enjoyed at cooler temperatures, though the specifics depend on the style of the bottle you're going to open up. Bulk-produced Pinot Grigio is best enjoyed straight from the fridge, as the chill helps to highlight its acidity and citrus fruit. High-quality examples from the great producers of Alto Adige, Collio, Friuli, Alsace, and the Willamette Valley, are best enjoyed with slightly less of a chill, enough to maintain the wines' freshness, but not so much that the underlying and often more subtle fruit and floral notes are tamped down. A standard white wine or universal wine glass will work well for making the most out of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio.

Five Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio Wines to Taste

There are countless great Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio wines on the market today. These five producers, listed alphabetically, are a perfect way to start exploring all that Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio have to offer.

Castello Banfi

Banfi produces a wide range of wines in Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino to the under-$20 "San Angelo" Pinot Grigio 2020, which can be found (perhaps literally) everywhere. Yet despite that ubiquity and the volume in which it's produced, it manages to offer up plenty of bright citrus and pear fruit alongside suggestions of flowers and honey.

Chehalem

In addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and more!), Chehalem produces a lovely Pinot Gris from the Chehalem Mountain AVA of Oregon's Willamette Valley. The 2018 shows lots of hard pears, lemon blossoms, and honey-coated almonds through the long, mineral finish.

Domaine Ostertag

The venerable producer's 2018 "Les Jardins" Pinot Gris is terrific, a ripe, honeyed white whose creamy texture carries flavors of caramel apples and lemongrass, a pulse of almonds and minerality thrumming along through the citrus-pith-flecked finish. Plus, it's certified biodynamic.

Elena Walch

The 2019 Castel Ringberg Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige is an excellent wine ⁠— it's subtle, structured, layered, yet still very energetic. Aromas of mineral and hard apples as well as subtle herbs and lemon pith are followed by a concentrated, vibrant palate of chalky mineral, lemon pith, and a finish that rolls on a wave that's subtly briny and reminiscent of yellow-apple fritters. Also worth popping if you have a bottle is the 2015 Alois Lageder "Porer" Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige, a silky, caramel-flecked, nutty, and dried-peach-kissed gem that proves how well high-quality Pinot Grigio can age.

Gustave Lorentz

The 2020 Reserve Pinot Gris from Alsace is a pure, mineral-driven wine that shows lemon-lime notes and a touch of candied ginger. Fresh acidity makes it a great go-to for fish and seafood.