Pinot blanc, as its name implies, is the white cousin of Pinot noir and Pinot gris.

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.

The variety is also quite widely grown in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe.

In the vineyard Pinot Blanc bears some resemblance to Chardonnay but the wines tend 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.

Pinot blanc wine styles

In Alsace the variety is used, often in blends with a variety called Auxerois, to make light bodied white wines and the local sparkling Cremant d'Alsace. In Burgundy it is permittted 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 Spumante.

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

Pinot Blanc in Australia

The following Australian wineries use Pinot Blanc

• Amulet Vineyard Beechworth
• Hoddles Creek Estate Yarra Valley
• jb Wines Barossa Valley
• Lindenderry Mornington Peninsula
• Mosquito Hill Wines Southern Fleurieu
• St Matthias Northern Tasmania