Pinot Grigio

Pinot grigio

Pinot grigio, or Pinot gris, is an Italian white wine grape variant of the Pinot noir (often blended with Pinot noir to enrich and lighten the wine’s flavor), with grape clusters colored bluish gray, pink and brown. Often described as having a floral, smoky, honey-tinged flavor with a minor citrus kick, Pinot grigio wine is a dry, crisp white wine often high in acidity and low in tannins. Pinot grigio should be consumed within two years of its vintage, and pairs well with seafood, pork and chicken, if served sans acidic embellishments. Pinot grigio’s nomenclature varies according to region of growth: Pinot grigio in Italy (and Tre Venezie, specifically), Ruländer or Grauburgunder in Germany, Tokay d’Alsace, Pinot beurot or Fromentau in France, and Sivi Pinot in Eastern Europe, to name a few. In the United States, Pinot gris is grown in Oregon primarily, though California has recently seen large growth spurts. Pinot grigio is the largest wine import in America.