Pinot Gris vs. Pinot Grigio: A Showdown of Tastes

A Brief History of Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris is the close, close relative of the grape Pinot Noir—a genetic mutation only centuries old separates them, and they are primarily identified by the difference in their color (the term  ‘Gris’ is French for gray; ‘noir’ French for black; and ‘Pinot’ French for ‘pine’ because of the pinecone-shape of the each vine’s grape formation). 

Pinot Gris is also, of course, known for making various spectacular wines.  Its major homeland is in Alsace, a region along France’s eastern border, but it does make its mark elsewhere as well.  This is when the confusion between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio arrives on the scene.

Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris)

Pinot Grigio is the name given to Pinot Gris that is grown in Italy.  To make things still more interesting, Pinot Gris grown outside of Italy can be known as either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio (there are California and Oregon variants, for example).

In short, the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio depends in part on where the grape is grown(which is still, at heart, Pinot Gris—I know, fun) and, as we’ll get into soon, which conventions people wish to use to differentiate one from the other.

Pinot Gris Wines and Pinot Grigio Wines Demystified, Perhaps

The term Pinot Gris is usually reserved for those wines straight from Alsace, and usually have a more flowery and/or fruity flavor (flavors of the latter include melon and grapefruit).  Pinot Grigios are, of course, wines of the same grapes from Italy, but also have plenty of variants from Californian to Australian.  Italian Grigios tend to be dry, light, and pack a mineral tang.  Those from California have stronger flavors and can be citrusy, while still retaining the mineral flavor characteristic of Italian Grigios.

What you yourself call a Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio is entirely up to you (again, it is the same grape after all).  Nonetheless, just where and how the grapes were grown means a lot for flavor and, thus, means a lot for people’s categorization of them as either a Gris or Grigio.  The moral of the story here is this:  make sure you and your fellow wine enthusiasts agree on a standard for the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio before you begin discussing it, lest your day of tasting be overwhelmed by confusion.

Tags: difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, white wines

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