What is Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris?
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris is a white wine style best understood through its balance of fruit, freshness, body, tannin, sweetness and texture. Clean, easy-drinking white with pear, apple and citrus. Good for light starters, mild fish, salads and simple vegetable dishes. Typical flavours include pear, apple, lemon, white peach.
Veneto, Friuli, Alsace, Oregon
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris
Crisp White · 12-13.5%
Style profile
Grapes, regions and character
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris is commonly associated with Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris. The grape choice shapes the wine’s aroma, structure, acidity, body and food-pairing personality. Classic regions include Veneto, Friuli, Alsace, Oregon.
Veneto, Friuli, Alsace, Oregon
Italy; France; United States
What does Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris pair well with?
Pair Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris by matching the wine’s weight, acidity, sweetness and tannin to the dish. It works especially well with salads, mild fish, light pasta, soft cheese. It is usually less successful with very bold spice or rich red meat.
Best food matches
Pairings to avoid
What makes a good or bad Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris?
A good Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris should taste balanced, expressive and clean. Look for clear fruit, freshness, structure and a finish that suits the style. The acidity is usually medium, so the wine should feel lively without becoming harsh. The body is usually light-medium, so it should match the weight expected from this style.
A poor Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris can taste flat, tired, harsh, thin, overly sweet, too alcoholic or unbalanced. Avoid bottles where oak, bitterness, heat or sweetness dominate the fruit, freshness and structure.
When buying Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris, look for bottles where the region, grape and producer style match the food you want to cook. Useful countries to look at include Italy; France; United States.
Serve Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris at around 7-10°C. Serving temperature matters because too warm can make wine feel heavy, while too cold can mute flavour.
