Here is my old information sheet I used when I hosted my first wine tasting party that centered around Pinot Gris/Grigio. Feel free to reporduce and print this out to use at you own tasting. I just ask that you let me know in the comments about how your party went and your successes and please credit the blog. Thanks!
Pinot Grigio/Gris is a wine with two very different personalities. While it is the same grape it has two different names depending on the grapes origin or what style is was made in. Grigio is the Italian version of the grape and is like the red headed step child of the wine world, often chastised by wine sommeliers for being over produced and lacking any real character and depth. Then there is Pinot Gris, the French style of the grape which is revered by wine sommeliers as rich, creamy, and complex. The irony is, if you talk to the average American wine drinker and ask if they prefer Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris they will look at you like you are crazy and say “Pinot Grigio of coarse” because most wine drinkers know little about the French grape.
Pinot Grigio flavors can range from melon to pear and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit, often there is a honey or smoky flavor component as well. The wine is light bodied, very crisp, with good acidity that pairs well with rich cream based pasta dishes. The best grigio regions in Italy are, Lombardy region around Oltrepo Pavese and in Alto Adige, Italy's northern most wine region and in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. As for color, Pinot Grigio is typically a pale, straw-like yellow with some golden hues thrown in. The texture of a Pinot Grigio is very smooth, almost silk-like overtones that can leave an impression on the palate. It is worth noting that only quality grigio posses these characteristics, often times they are very flat, have little nose, and have an almost bitter after taste. Pinot Gris from Alsace creates rich, stone fruit-laden wines. They are perfumed and aromatic, and typically dry. It has round body and medium acidity. Pinot Gris typically provides more body and rounder fruits while Pinot Grigio gives lighter-bodied, citrus fruits.
Pinot Grigio/Gris is a wine with two very different personalities. While it is the same grape it has two different names depending on the grapes origin or what style is was made in. Grigio is the Italian version of the grape and is like the red headed step child of the wine world, often chastised by wine sommeliers for being over produced and lacking any real character and depth. Then there is Pinot Gris, the French style of the grape which is revered by wine sommeliers as rich, creamy, and complex. The irony is, if you talk to the average American wine drinker and ask if they prefer Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris they will look at you like you are crazy and say “Pinot Grigio of coarse” because most wine drinkers know little about the French grape.
Pinot Grigio flavors can range from melon to pear and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit, often there is a honey or smoky flavor component as well. The wine is light bodied, very crisp, with good acidity that pairs well with rich cream based pasta dishes. The best grigio regions in Italy are, Lombardy region around Oltrepo Pavese and in Alto Adige, Italy's northern most wine region and in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. As for color, Pinot Grigio is typically a pale, straw-like yellow with some golden hues thrown in. The texture of a Pinot Grigio is very smooth, almost silk-like overtones that can leave an impression on the palate. It is worth noting that only quality grigio posses these characteristics, often times they are very flat, have little nose, and have an almost bitter after taste. Pinot Gris from Alsace creates rich, stone fruit-laden wines. They are perfumed and aromatic, and typically dry. It has round body and medium acidity. Pinot Gris typically provides more body and rounder fruits while Pinot Grigio gives lighter-bodied, citrus fruits.
You need to be a member of Wine 2.0 to add comments!
Join Wine 2.0