Jul 23 2009
The “Gris” Area
By Brett Ashley McKenzie
With summer well underway, more and more Just Grapes customers are spending their time in the store perusing our whites and rosés. But there is one category that some shoppers don’t seem to know how to approach: Pinot Gris.
Just Grapes' seductive Oregonian Pinot Gris for this summer is Ponzi.
“What is this?” people will ask, bringing up a bottle of the Alsatian Gustave Lorentz or the New Zealand Nautilus Pinot Gris. Or they’ll discover Pinot Gris (pronounced Pee-No Gree) at the tasting machine, where the Oregonian Ponzi Pinot Gris has been holding court this month.
We tell them that Pinot Gris is “biologically” the same as Pinot Grigio (Pinot Grigio is a clone of Pinot Gris; aka they are the same grape). But if you’re expecting your glass of Ponzi or Nautilus to taste like Santa Margherita, you’re in for a shock. There is a mysterious sensuality in a good Pinot Gris that is unlike that I’ve found in any other white wine I’ve tasted. Sometimes smoky, sometimes rich, sometimes seemingly as big as a Chardonnay, Pinot Gris are elegant, often featuring subtle notes of pear or melon, yet still dry (though not quite so crisp as many Pinot Grigios).
In Alsace, Pinot Gris is considered one of the “noble grapes” (along with Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Muscat). Alsatian Pinot Gris, unlike its New World counterparts, is often described as spicy, big, and possessing exceptional food acidity. Alsatians expect their Pinot Gris to stand up to virtually any dish without interfering with the food’s flavor or texture.
There is, however, a burgeoning Pinot Gris region right here in the U.S. In 2007, the New York Times said “Oregon pinot gris is one of the least-talked-about, best-value wines on the market today… They have grace and texture, and are lively enough to go well with food. Best of all, they almost always cost less than $20.” What separates Oregonian Pinot Gris from its Alsatian counterpart is a mineral quality, with notes of nuttiness–like almond or hazelnut. Where Alsatian Pinot Gris is big and textured, Oregonian Pinot Gris is more subtle. It’s sexy, it’s silky, and that lovely smoked nut quality makes it a to-die-for pairing with most hard cheeses.
My first experience with Pinot Gris was Alsatian, but I’ve sinced come to appreciate the very different yet very appealing qualities in Alsace and Oregonian Pinot Gris.
Have you tried our Pinot Gris? What differences do you notice between Alsace and Oregon?
While Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are biologically the same, Pinot Gris are elegant, often featuring subtle notes of pear or melon, yet still dry (though not quite so crisp as many Pinot Grigios).
Pinot Gris is French, Pinot Grigio is Italian. Same grape, two different languages. The styles are different. Pinot Gris is smoother while Pinot Grigio is a bit more dry.
Pinot Gris may be richer, bigger, subtle nuances of fruit while Pinot Grigio may be more crisp.
Pinot Grigio is a clone of Pinot Gris as they are made from the same grape. However, they differ in taste as Pinot Gris tends to be smokier and richer than Pinot Grigio, and isn’t quite as crisp.
Pinot Gris is “biologically” the same as Pinot Grigio (Pinot Grigio is a clone of Pinot Gris; aka they are the same grape). Pinot Gris are elegant, often featuring subtle notes of pear or melon, yet still dry (though not quite so crisp as many Pinot Grigios).
There is no difference…same grape.
They are biologically the same, however, Pinot Gris are elegant, often featuring subtle notes of pear or melon, yet still dry, while the Pinot Grigio is much crisper.
It comes from the same grape, but it is definitely not the same wine. Pinot Grigio comes from Italy and California and is typically dry and light, while Pinot Gris comes from France and Oregon and can be more fruity.
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris Wine Information
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are actually the same white grape, with two different names. In Italy and California this wine is known as pinot grigio, while in Oregon and France it’s known as pinot gris. Other countries use the terms interchangeably. The pinot grigio grape is in essence a white mutation of the pinot noir grape, which is red.
Important note – pinot blanc is not the same as pinot gris or pinot grigio. Pinot blanc is a further mutation of the pinot noir grape.
Most pinot grigio wines are created in Italy. The Italian version of pinot grigio is typically dry (not sweet) and light, with a mineral taste to it. Californian variants of pinot grigio tend to be richer in flavor, but still have the mineral taste. Often, they finish with a lemony or citrusy flavor.
French pinot gris wines tend to come from the Alsace region. These are more fruity and flowery than their Italian counterparts, though they still have that mineral aroma. Flavors can range from peach to grapefruit to melon.
Pinot grigio pairs well with light dishes that are still on the “thick” side, like chicken in a rich white sauce, or eggplant with heavy spices. Pinot grigio is a white wine, but it is able to hold its own against richer flavors. It should be served at 48F.
Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio. This is the same grape with two names – Pinot Gris is French for ‘Gray Pinot’ and Pinot Grigio is the Italian name
It’s the same grape in different languages: “gris” is French and “grigio” is Italian. Both mean “gray.” But there’s a huge difference in bottles labeled Pinot Gris versus Pinot Grigio.
Read more: http://sfgate.info/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/18/WIGS9PPGKG1.DTL#ixzz0MZsEbZJV
Thank you to everyone that participated in this week’s quiz of the day – “What is the difference between Pinot Grigio & Pinot Gris?” The correct answer is indeed, genetically they are the same grape with 2 names. Pinot Gris coming from Alsace, France produces a style that is much more exotic, tropical and floral. Pinot Grigio originates from Italy and is much brighter, crisper and more citrus focused. The first 9 people who responded will receive a separate email with instructions to picking up your price. Please stay tuned next week for the next Savvy Sip Tips.