Still one of the most popular varieties, Pinot Gris (gree) or Grigio (gridge-ee-oh), are the same grape variety, however the two styles are polar opposites.
It’s confusing to know which is style you like. You could order a Pinot Gris that tastes more like a Grigio and vice versa.
Made from one variety, a member of the Pinot Noir family and originating in Burgundy, France, this grape has two different names thanks to France and Italy, where it is grown.
It is both site distinctive and specific. In cooler regions with deep rich soils, the grapes exhibit wild honey, stone fruit and generosity typical of Alsatian Pinot Gris. Pinot Grigio still requires a cool climate to excel but with lighter soils typically found close to the coast
- Kathleen Quealy. Pinot Grigio pioneer in Australia
Gris is French for "grey" and its home is the Alsace region. Pinot Gris is known for being rich, full-bodied with a lovely silky texture. No matter where it is grown it shows greater mouth feel and richness. These wines tend to be a little pricier than their Grigio cousins, because the grapes are usually picked fully ripe to allow the more developed and generous style to develop. Pinot Gris pairs well with heartier fare, such as a veal chops, rabbit stew, roast pork, chicken casseroles and hard cheeses.
Italian Grigio should be a light, crisp wine ideal for early drinking and is most famously known in the regions of Veneto and Friuli. Pinot Grigio can exhibit delicate aromas with great intensity and depth, however they are often crisper and lighter-bodied. Pinot Grigio is made all over Italy but the best wines come from the cooler northern regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige. The grapes are picked earlier than Alsace Gris, and as a result the wine is usually a bit lower in alcohol, lighter, crisper, drier and lacking the spiciness that comes with riper grapes. It is better suited to enjoying as an apéritif or with lighter dishes such grilled prawns, fish or light appetisers. Both styles have common aroma and flavour descriptors of apple, pear, strawberry, honey, hay, brioche and bread.