A lover of cool climates, but capable of demonstrating an excellent spirit of adaptation even in warm places, Pinot Grigio is a grape variety that builds its identity on versatility. Lively and multifaceted, it pleases more or less everyone, from those who love light and mineral white wines, to those who prefer fuller-bodied and structured wines. Here's everything you need to know about Pinot Grigio, from characteristics and history to recommended pairings!
The characteristics of Pinot Grigio, a wine with many identities
Pinot Grigio is a multifaceted and versatile wine, which can take on different characteristics depending on its area of origin. Just think of Alsatian labels, sweeter and more full-bodied compared to Italian Pinot Grigio wine, which in turn presents much more refreshing and lighter notes than those of New World wines.
Generally, the Pinot Grigio grape variety has berries with a pale colour, sometimes pink sometimes bluish (unusual for a white grape variety), with grey hues from which it takes its name. At an aromatic level, most wines produced in cool areas boast a light, refreshing bouquet with a slightly acidic and mineral finish, reminiscent of apple and citrus. When instead it is cultivated and produced in areas with higher temperatures and constant sun exposure, the aromas become deeper and more full-bodied, with hints of spices, honey and tropical fruit.
A variety that loves the cool: production areas and terroir
After its initial spread in Europe, Pinot Grigio has gone around the world, reaching places very far from its region of origin, where it has thrived in cooler and more temperate climates, in contact with calcareous, clay or sandy soils. In the case of New World varieties, however, slightly higher temperatures are not an obstacle, but rather a new expressive opportunity.
Among the main production areas of the grape variety, these stand out:
- Alsace: in this historic region of northeastern France, Pinot Grigio has unique characteristics and excellent ageing Thanks to the cool temperatures and calcareous soils, the wines produced here boast considerable organoleptic richness, amplified by late harvesting, as well as a rather high alcohol content. The colour includes coppery hues, thanks to the tendency to let the must ferment on the skins during the early stages of vinification. The aromas welcome notes of peach, apple, spices and honey, whilst on the palate they present a full body and powerful sip, with a good sugar residue.
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: located in northeastern Italy, Friuli is a region renowned for its excellent production of Pinot Grigio, characterised by soils rich in marl and sandstone, and a cool climate, mitigated by the presence of the Alps and the sea. Generally, these wines are fermented in contact with their skins, according to a style that gives a more intense colour. Pinot Grigio here takes on bold notes of acacia flowers and fruit, as well as a pinch of acidity and minerality on the finish. The sip is structured and smooth.
- Veneto: widespread especially in the Venice and Treviso area, Veneto's Pinot Grigio usually boasts a straw yellow colour, a remarkable lightness and lively aromas of flowers, pear, green apple and citrus. The vines thrive in this region thanks to the presence of silty-clay soils and a temperate climate, but also thanks to the temperature variations, which amplify the aromas.
- Trentino-Alto Adige: in the mountain climate of Alto Adige, characterised by significant temperature variations and soils rich in clay and limestone, a Pinot Grigio is born with fruity tones, medium structure and pleasant mineral nuances. In the rest of Trentino, the more temperate climate and alluvial soils confer softer tones and aromas of white-fleshed fruit and citrus.
- New Zealand and Australia: outside Europe, Pinot Grigio also finds excellent terroirs in these countries. The climate is warmer compared to that preferred by the vine, but still manages to guarantee excellent production and unique nuances, including tropical notes and full-bodied aromas.
The best Pinot Grigio and ideal food pairings
Lightness or robustness? Mineral or tropical nuances? The best way to find your Pinot Grigio style is to taste its best labels, which Svinando presents along with some essential pairing tips!
"Grappoli" Pinot Grigio Collio DOC 2023
Considered one of the most representative wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Pinot Grigio finds in this region an ideal terroir to develop its mineral and refreshing notes.
This is well demonstrated by this bottle of "Grappoli" Pinot Grigio Collio DOC 2023, fragrant and easy-drinking, produced in the prestigious sub-zone of Collio.
Freshness is the trademark of this wine with a subtle and balanced aromatic profile, focused on notes of not-too-ripe white-fleshed fruit and citrus, with a slight and characteristic hint of wildflowers and aromatic herbs. On the palate it offers a pleasant vivacity, as well as a mineral finish that lightens the palate during lunches and dinners based on fish, its favourite pairing. However, its innate versatility should not be underestimated: in addition to pairing well with salmon en croûte, cod stew or a tasty Fisherman's Pie, this wine elegantly accompanies mixed platters of cold cuts and cheeses, thus representing an excellent option for an aperitif.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC 2023
The perfect balance between the humidity that laps the Veneto hills and the temperature variations that characterise the region's climate, gives life to an excellent variation of Pinot Grigio, which is suitable for a wide range of gastronomic proposals.
Fish dishes remain the favourites of this Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC 2023, from the more convivial fish & chips to roast salmon, from soups to grilled fish, shellfish and molluscs. In the pairing between Pinot Grigio and food, in this case you can dare a bit more, pairing it with spicy ethnic dishes, such as Chicken Tikka Masala or Thai cuisine proposals. Absolutely worth trying with vegetarian quiches and a slice of pizza!
This marked versatility is due to the lightness of the aromatic profile. Immediate notes of pineapple and pear emerge on the nose, accompanied by a floral hint and a remarkable freshness, which is also found on the palate. The tasting reveals a medium body and a persistent finish.
Pinot Grigio Trentino DOC "Terre di Valfredda" 2024
Another excellent demonstration of how the Pinot Grigio grape variety has adapted to the terroir of northern Italy is its Trentino variation, well represented here by a Pinot Grigio Trentino DOC "Terre di Valfredda" 2024, which enjoys the cool but mild climate that develops between the mountains of the region.
This wine is characterised by a straw yellow colour, and displays in the glass a captivating aromatic charge, between notes of citrus and apple. The slight acidity on the finish cleanses the palate, whilst the good structure lends itself well to pairings with classic seafood menus or those with an Eastern inspiration, such as sushi and sashimi. Also good with vegetarian starters, such as courgette or aubergine balls, mushroom skewers, mini sandwiches, canapés and various appetisers.
Pinot Gris AOC Alsace 2020
To close this guide to Pinot Grigio, we finally return to where it all began, to that France that gave birth to some of the most prestigious labels in the world. In this case, it is the Alsatian style that deserves to be explored, through the tasting of this Pinot Gris AOC Alsace 2020.
The particularity of this version is noticeable from the first approach, when the nose approaches the glass, letting itself be enveloped by the deep and rich aromas typical of Pinot Grigio from this region. Characterised by a very elegant green hue, it enchants the senses with an aromatic charge of ripe fruit, including notes of pear, apple and apricot, enriched by soft hints of vanilla, brioche and pistachio. This persuasive soul is also noticed on the palate, balanced however by a touch of elegant freshness.
A great pairing with this French Pinot Grigio? It can again be paired with fish dishes, whether sea or freshwater, but its organoleptic boldness also lends itself well to accompanying meat dishes based on veal or pork, such as roasts, braises and fillets with not too heavy a seasoning.
The origins of the grape variety
Despite there being different theories on the origin of the grape variety (for example, it is thought to have been born from Furmint vines imported from Hungary), the most accredited hypothesis is that the cradle of Pinot Grigio is the French region of Burgundy, from which it would then have spread especially to Alsace. Genetic studies have highlighted the derivation of the grape variety from Pinot Noir, as a result of a genetic mutation that probably occurred during the Middle Ages.
In the 14th century, the grape variety experienced considerable fortune in Switzerland, where it was widely cultivated by monks, whilst later it also reached Northern Italy. Here its fortune grew especially in the 1960s, when thanks to the processing of its grapes by Italian producers - especially the Santa Margherita winery of Portogruaro - a light, fresh and lively white wine was created that conquered consumers at home and abroad.
Italy's role in the history of Pinot Gris is not marginal, but rather identity-forming, because it was precisely thanks to the spread between Friuli, Veneto and Trentino (to a small extent the vines were also cultivated in Tuscany, Val d'Aosta and the Oltrepò Pavese) and the particular expression that the grape variety took on in these territories, this white wine began to develop an all-Italian profile, despite the enormous spread in many other countries of the world.
Now that you know everything about Pinot Grigio, find the perfect bottle for your next dinner in the Svinando catalogue!