Pinot blanc white wine variety

Just as Pinot Gris has a French and Italian name (Pinot Grigio) Pinot blanc has it's Italian name Pinot bianco.

Other synonyms include Clevner, Chasselas Dorato, Borgogna bianco, Pineau blanc, Beli pinot, Weisser Rulander, Weisser Burgunder.

This variety is most often associated with the Alsace region in France as well as the Italian regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli and Lombardy. Pinot blanc is also quite widely grown in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe. It is also used in the Pacific States of the United States.

Pinot Blanc bears some resemblance to Chardonnay in the vineyard but the wines tend to be lighter bodied and to have higher acid. This higher acidity is valued for making base wines for sparkling wines, and when Pinot blanc is blended with other varieties. Varietal Pinot blancs are uncommon but they can be attractive crisp wines.

Pinot Blanc Wine Styles

In Alsace the variety is used, often in blends with a variety called Auxerrois, to make light bodied white wines and the local sparkling Cremant d'Alsace. In Burgundy it is permitted as a blending partner with Chardonnay but in practice it is rarely used.

Fine white wines are made from Pinot blanc in Alto Adige. Elsewhere in Italy's North East Pinot grigio is preferred and Pinot blanc is relegated to a minor blending partner or to make base wines for Spumanti.

In Austria a rich sweet trockenbeerenauslese wine is made under the name Wiessburgunder.

Pinot Blanc in Australia