Pinot grigio or is it Pinot gris?

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Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are becoming increasingly popular wines in Australia. You could argue that they are no longer alternative varieties, but have become mainstream. This white wine variety is being used in most Australian wine regions, but it is especially suitable in the cooler regions, such as the Mornington Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley or Tasmania.

Don't be confused by the names

The names Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris mean Grey Pinot in Italian and French respectively. 'Pinot' refers to the characteristic pine cone shaped bunch of this group of varieties.

Other synonyms for this variety include Pinot Burot, Tokay d'Alsace, Tokayer, Malvoise, Gris Cordelier, Klevanjka, Rulander, Fromentot, Grauer Burgunder, Grauer Monch, Szurkebarat

This variety closely is related to Pinot Noir variety and is believed to be a mutation of Pinot Noir. In the vineyard Pinot Grigio vines are often difficult to distinguish from its putative ancestor until the berries ripen when those of the Grigio will have much less pigment.

Other Pinot varieties include Pinot Blanc (Bianco in Italian) which has little or no pigment in the berries, and Pinot Meunier, a red variety used for Champagne and red table wines.

'Pinot Chardonnay' is often on the label of Australian sparkling wines. It indicates a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties were used to make the wine. When Chardonnay was introduced into Australia in the 1980s it was sometimes called, incorrectly, "Pinot Chardonnay"

Pinot Gris around the world

In Europe Pinot grigio is widely planted in France, Italy, Germany and Austria, as well as in dozens of other countries from Canada to Romania to Switzerland to New Zealand Given the inherent variation of this variety and its geographic dispersion it is hardly surprising that a wide range of wine styles are produced from it.

In Alsace under the name of Tokay d'Alsace, it produces a rich, almost oily wine.

In Northern Italy the Pinot Grigio's are light and even spritzig. Under the name of Rulander in Germany it produces wines somewhat similar to white Burgundies

Pinot Gris in Australia

Pinot grigio has attracted serious interest in Australia only over the past two decades. The early Australian champion of variety was Kathleen Queely of T'Gallant Wines. She has now moved on from that label but not before establishing the variety and guiding it from 'alternative' to mainstream status.

There is still a great deal of experimentation with the variety and it may take several more years before the optimal combination of terroir and winemaking technique emerges. In the meantime some great wines are already available for those who are looking for new experiences.

Both sharper light bodied (grigio) and fuller bodied (gris) styles are made in Australia, but really there is a continuum right across the spectrum. Whether the wine is labelled gris or grigio is a good, but not perfect guide to what you might expect.

The taste of Pinot gris and Pinot grigio wines

The style varies from lightbodied and fairly straight forward (Pinot grigio) to rich and complex wines (Pinot gris) that are almost overwhelming in their voluptuousness. This is one occasion when reading tasting notes about a particular wine before buying is worthwhile.

Pinot grigio and food

These wines are lighter bodied so they are perfect with fritto misto (mixed fried seafood) or antipasti. In fact this style is versatile enough to go with seafood pasta dishes such as Spaghetti alla Vongole or with tomato and basil based pasta sauces. My Marinated Mushrooms recipe also calls for a crisp wine. Finally if you have some Taramasalata and can't find a Greek wine a Pinot grigio might fill the bill.

Pinot gris and food

These wines are fuller bodied with more honeyed aromas. Think about roast chicken, pork or veal. If you are having chicken live pate as an appetizer perhaps a richer Pinot gris might be a good choice. Seafood dishes in as seafood sauce might go well with this style of wine as well.

Wineries using Pinot Gris/Grigio in Australia

Ada River Gippsland, Adina Vineyard Hunter Valley, Alta Wines Adelaide Hills, Amadio Adelaide Hills, Amulet Vineyard Beechworth, Anderson Winery Rutherglen, Angoves Winery Riverland, Angullong Wines Orange, Annapurna Alpine Valleys, Artwine Clare Valley, Ashton Hills Adelaide Hills, Austin's Wines Geelong, Baie Wines Geelong, Baillieu Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Ballast Stone Estate Currency Creek, Banks Road Geelong, Banrock Station Riverland, Barmah Park Wines Mornington Peninsula, Barringwood Park Northern Tasmania, Barrymore Estate Mornington Peninsula, Barton Estate Canberra, Barwang Hilltops, Basalt Ridge Macedon Ranges, Bass Fine Wines Northern Tasmania, Bass River Gippsland, Battunga Vineyards Adelaide Hills, Bay of Fires Northern Tasmania, Baywiew Estate Winery Mornington Peninsula, Beelgara Estate Riverina, Belgravia Vineyards Orange, Bella Riva King Valley, Bellarine Estate Geelong, Bergamin Wines King Valley, Berton Vineyards Riverina, Bimbadgen Estate Hunter Valley, BK Wines Adelaide Hills, Blackbilly McLaren Vale, Blackford Stable Wines Adelaide Hills, Blue Metal Vineyard Southern Highlands, Blue Range Estate Mornington Peninsula, Boat O'Craigo Yarra Valley, Bockman Adelaide Hills, Boggy Creek Vineyards King Valley, Boyntons Feathertop Alpine Valleys, Brammar Estate Yarra Valley, Brandy Creek Wines Gippsland, Brokenwood Wines Hunter Valley, Brown's Farm Winery Hunter Valley, Brown Magpie Wines Geelong, Bulong Estate Yarra Valley, Burnbrae Winery Mudgee, Cape Banks Limestone Coast Zone, Cape Bernier Vineyard Southern Tasmania, Casella Riverina, Caught Redhanded Adelaide Zone, Centennial Vineyards Southern Highlands, Ceravolo Premium Wines Adelaide Plains, Ceres Bridge Estate Geelong, Chain of Ponds Adelaide Hills, Chapel Hill McLaren Vale, Chartley Estate Northern Tasmania, Chateau Mildura Murray Darling, Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley, Cherubino Pemberton, Chrismont King Valley, Clearview Estate Mudgee Mudgee, Cleveland Macedon Ranges, Cloudbreak Wines Adelaide Hills, Clyde Park Vineyard Geelong, Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley, Constable Vineyards Hunter Valley, Cook's Lot Orange, Coombe Farm Vineyard Yarra Valley, Crittenden at Dromana Mornington Peninsula, Cumulus Wines Orange, Curlewis Winery Geelong, Curly Flat Macedon Ranges, Cuttaway Hill Estate Southern Highlands, Dal Zotto Estate King Valley, Dalfaras Nagambie Lakes, Darling Park Mornington Peninsula, David Hook Wines Hunter Valley, De Lisio Wines McLaren Vale, Delatite Winery Upper Goulburn, Deviation Road Adelaide Hills, Di Lusso Estate Mudgee, Doc Adams McLaren Vale, Dos Rios Swan Hill, Dromana Estate Mornington Peninsula, Eagles Rise Geelong, Eden Hall Canberra, Edgecombe Orange, Elgee Park Mornington Peninsula, Ellender Estate Macedon Ranges, Eminence King Valley, Ermes Estate Mornington Peninsula, Farago Hill Southern Highlands, Five Sons Estate Mornington Peninsula, Foxey's Hangout Mornington Peninsula, Freeman Vineyards Hilltops, French Island Vineyards Mornington Peninsula, Frog Rock Mudgee, Frogmore Creek Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Galli Estate Sunbury, Galvanized Wine Group McLaren Vale, Gapsted Alpine Valleys, Ghost Rock Northern Tasmania, Giant Steps Yarra Valley, Glen Creek Wines Upper Goulburn, Glenguin Hunter Valley, Goorambath Glenrowan, Gracebrook Vineyards King Valley, Granite Ridge Wines Granite Belt, Grant Burge Barossa Valley, Grey Sands Northern Tasmania, GrumbleBone Estate Vineyard Southern Highlands, Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills, Hanging Rock Winery Macedon Ranges, Harlow Park Estate Mornington Peninsula, Haselgrove McLaren Vale, Hazyblur Wines Kangaroo Island, Heartland Wines Limestone Coast Zone, Henderson Hardie King Valley, Henley Hill Yarra Valley, Henschke Eden Valley, Herbert Vineyard Limestone Coast Zone, Heytesbury Ridge Geelong, Hillstowe Adelaide Hills, Hillwood Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Hoddles Creek Estate Yarra Valley, HPR Wines Mornington Peninsula, Hungerford Hill Hunter Valley, Indigo Wine Company Beechworth, Inneslake Hastings River, Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley, Iron Pot Bay Wines Northern Tasmania, Irvine Eden Valley, Jinglers Creek Northern Tasmania, Jinks Creek Winery Gippsland, Jones Road Mornington Peninsula, Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek, Kellermeister Wines Barossa Valley, Kilgour Estate Geelong, Killara Estate Yarra Valley, Kirrihill Adelaide Hills, Knappstein Wines Clare Valley, Kouark Gippsland, Kreglinger Estate Mount Benson, Kurabana Geelong, Lady Bay Winery Southern Fleurieu, Lake Geroge Canberra, Lambert Vineyards Canberra, Lark Hill Winery Canberra, Laurellyn Wines New England, Lazzar Wines Mornington Peninsula, Leabrook Estate Adelaide Hills, Lerida Estate Canberra, Leura Park Estate Geelong, Little Wine Company Hunter Valley, Llangibby Estate Adelaide Hills, Lochmoore Gippsland, Logan Wines Mudgee, Long Rail Gully Canberra, Lou Miranda Estate Barossa Valley, Louee Wines Mudgee, Lowe Family Wines Mudgee, Madew Wines Canberra, Manton's Creek Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Marions Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Maritime Estate Mornington Peninsula, Mawson Ridge Adelaide Hills, McAdams Lane Geelong, McCrae Mist Wines Mornington Peninsula, McLaren Wines McLaren Vale, McVitty Grove Southern Highlands, Meadowbank Estate Southern Tasmania, Melross Estate Pyrenees, Miceli Mornington Peninsula, Michelini Alpine Valleys, Millers Dixons Creek Estate Yarra Valley, Milton Vineyard Southern Tasmania, Minko Southern Fleurieu, Monichino Wines Goulburn Valley, Montalto Vineyards Mornington Peninsula, Monument Vineyard Central Ranges Zone, Moondarra Gippsland, Moorilla Estate Southern Tasmania, Moorooduc Estate Mornington Peninsula, Morning Star Estate Mornington Peninsula, Morning Sun Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Mount Ashby Estate Southern Highlands, Mount Franklin Estate Macedon Ranges, Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyards Grampians, Mount Majura Canberra, Mount Markey Gippsland, Mount Pierrepoint Estate Henty, Mount Surmon Clare Valley, Mountadam Eden Valley, Mt Samaria Vineyard Goulburn Valley, Murdup Wines Mount Benson, Mylkappa Wines Adelaide Hills, Nalbra Estate Geelong, Nazaaray Mornington Peninsula, Nepenthe Adelaide Hills, Neqtar Wines Murray Darling, Nova Vita Wines Adelaide Hills, Nugan Estate King Valley, Nyora Vineyard and Winery Gippsland, Oakridge Yarra Valley, Oatley Wines Mudgee, Ocean Eight Vineyard and Winery Mornington Peninsula, Optimiste Mudgee, Orchard Road Orange, Outlook Hill Yarra Valley, Paracombe Wines Adelaide Hills, Paradigm Hill Mornington Peninsula, Paramoor Wines Macedon Ranges, Paringa Estate Mornington Peninsula, Pasut Family Wines Murray Darling, Patina Wines Orange, Paul Bettio King Valley, Paxton McLaren Vale, Peninsula Baie Wines Geelong, Petaluma Adelaide Hills, Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee, Pewsy Vale Eden Valley, Phaedrus Estate Mornington Peninsula, Piako Vineyards Murray Darling, Pialligo Estate Canberra, Pier 10 Mornington Peninsula, Pike and Joyce Adelaide Hills, Pikes Clare Valley, Pipers Brook Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Pirie Estate Northern Tasmania, Piromit Wines Riverina, Point Leo Road Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Politini King Valley, Pooley Wines Southern Tasmania, Pothana Hunter Valley, Prancing Horse Estate Mornington Peninsula, Primerano King Valley, Primo Estate Adelaide Plains, Prince Hill Wines Mudgee, Printhie Wines Orange, Provenance Wines Geelong, Punt Road Yarra Valley, Quealy Mornington Peninsula, Quoin Hill Pyrenees, Red Hill Estate Mornington Peninsula, Redbank Victoria King Valley, Redbox (Yarra Valley) Yarra Valley, Redden Bridge Wrattonbully, Ridgemill Estate Granite Belt, Ridgeview Wines Hunter Valley, Rochford Wines Yarra Valley, Ros Ritchie Upper Goulburn, Rosevears Estate Northern Tasmania, Rowans Lane Wines Henty, Ruane Winery Southern Highlands, Sailors Falls Winery Macedon Ranges, Sautjan Vineyards Macedon Ranges, SC Pannell McLaren Vale, Scorpo Wines Mornington Peninsula, Scotchmans Hill Geelong, Scott Winemaking Barossa Valley, Seaforth Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Seppelt Great Western Grampians, Serafino Wines McLaren Vale, Settlement Wines McLaren Vale, Seville Estate Yarra Valley, Shadowfax Vineyard and Winery Geelong, Sheer Drop Bendigo, Sidewood Estate Adelaide Hills, Silverwaters Vineyard Gippsland, Sirromet Queensland Coastal, Snobs Creek Wines Upper Goulburn, Somerbury Estate Mornington Peninsula, Soumah Yarra Valley, South Channel Wines Mornington Peninsula, Southern Highland Wines Southern Highlands, Spring Vale Wines Southern Tasmania, St Matthias Northern Tasmania, Starvedog Lane Adelaide Hills, Stefani Estate Yarra Valley, Stefano Lubiano Southern Tasmania, Stockman's Ridge Central Ranges Zone, Stone Bridge Wines Mount Lofty Ranges Zone, Stone Coast Wines Wrattonbully, Stumpy Gully Mornington Peninsula, Sugarloaf Ridge Southern Tasmania, Sutherlands Creek Vineyard Geelong, Symphonia King Valley, Symphony Hill Wines Granite Belt, T'Gallant Mornington Peninsula, Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes, Taltarni Pyrenees, Tamar Ridge Northern Tasmania, Tanjil Wines Gippsland, Tar and Roses Nagambie Lakes, Tarup Ridge Winery Strathbogie Ranges, Taylors Clare Valley, Te-Aro Barossa Valley, Telgherry Hunter Valley, Tempus Two Hunter Valley, Ten Minutes by Tractor Mornington Peninsula, The Cups Estate Mornington Peninsula, The Garden Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, The Lane Adelaide Hills, The Pawn Wine Company Langhorne Creek, Thorn-Clarke Wines Barossa Valley, Three Willows Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Tilbrook Estate Adelaide Hills, Tim Adams Clare Valley, Tomich Hill Adelaide Hills, Toogoolah Wines Orange, Toolangi Vineyard Yarra Valley, Toombullup North King Valley, Totino Wines Adelaide Hills, Tower Estate Hunter Valley, Trentham Estate Murray Darling, Tuck's Ridge Mornington Peninsula, Two Italian Boys Riverina, Tyrrells Hunter Valley, Vale Creek Wines Central Ranges Zone, Vale Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Velo Wines Northern Tasmania, Vintina Estate Mornington Peninsula, Walden Woods Farm New England, Warburn Estate Riverina, Way Wood Wines McLaren Vale, Waybourne Geelong, Wellington Southern Tasmania, Westend Estate Riverina, Whinstone Estate Mornington Peninsula, White Rock Vineyard Northern Tasmania, Whyworry Wines New England, Wild Cattle Creek Winery Yarra Valley, Willunga 100 Wines McLaren Vale, Winbirra Vineyard Mornington Peninsula, Winchelsea Estate Geelong, Witchmount Estate Sunbury, Wood Park King Valley, Word of Mouth Wines Orange, Wright Robinson of Glencoe New England, Wyuna Park Vineyard Geelong, Yabby Lake Winery Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Burn Yarra Valley, Yarra Ridge Yarra Valley, Yaxley Estate Southern Tasmania, Yellymong Swan Hill, Yering Station Yarra Valley, Zilzie Wines Murray Darling, Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

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