Have you ever met a Pinot Gris that knocked your socks off? I haven’t. It’s one of the few varietals that I haven’t found a bottle that I’m in love with. I’m wondering if you’ve had the same experience with this grape. Today, I’m going to focus on the benefits of a somewhat forgettable grape. Thank you to Latah Creek Wine Cellars for their help with this article.
What Is Pinot Gris?
What Are the Differences Between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio?
- Origin: Pinot Gris originates in France and is believed to be a mutation of Pinot Noir. In the 1300s, the grape made its way to Italy where it was renamed Pinot Grigio.
- Styles: The French version is picked late, so it is full-bodied and has a relatively high alcohol content. The Italian version is harvested early, which results in a light-bodied, crisper wine with lower alcohol. American Pinot Grigio has an exaggerated fruity flavor and much less acidity than European versions.
- Tasting notes: Pinot Gris features unique, complex flavors like cinnamon, and lemon, with a tingly aftertaste. Pinot Grigio is often characterized by the fruity flavors of pear, apple, lime, and lemon, with a refreshing spark of acidity. Some Italian-style Pinot Grigio wines also have a floral aroma of honeysuckle.
- Food pairings: According to Latah Creek, “the rich Pinot Gris style pairs well with roast pork, creamy pasta, and dense cheeses. The lighter Pinot Grigio is a fabulous apéritif but, I’d also recommend serving it with grilled shrimp, salads, or fruit platters.”
Why Do These Grapes Not Have a Lot of Personality?
Master of Wine Tim Atkin says it brilliantly: “Stylistically, Pinot Gris is hard to pin down. It can be perfumed or neutral; dry, off-dry or sweet; oaked or unoaked; light, medium- or full-bodied; exciting or sleep-inducing boring. At its most neutral, it is one of the least impressive of the major white grape varieties, with marginally more personality than a traffic cone. But cut vineyard yields, pick the grapes later and put a decent winemaker in charge and Pinot Gris can rival the best Chardonnays, Rieslings, Sauvignon Blancs and Chenin Blancs.
“The taste of Pinot Gris is difficult to define. The grape’s aromas and flavours, not to mention its weight and seriousness of intent, are diverse, depending on where it is grown and when it is picked. It can be as neutral as a basic Soave or as rich as Sauternes. The more concentrated examples have a spiciness, allied to richness and depth on the palate. Spices, honey, apples, pears, honeysuckle and (in the best Alsatian, Germany and Austrian systems) peaches, melons and even pineapples are all associated with Pinot Gris.”
I’m glad to hear that there is some amazing wine out there. I clearly haven’t landed on it. I would love to know if you have.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Wine Without Personality?
I did a lot of googling to try to find an answer to this question. Sadly, I couldn’t find one. My thoughts are that a semi-boring wine enables the food to really sing. Sometimes, you an amazing wine can overtake the meal, and the food gets lost. If you made a brilliant lunch or dinner, you don’t want the food to get lost. Having a wine with limited personality will prevent this from happening.
Do you have any other ideas about why you should drink a wine that doesn’t know your socks off? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
