Alternative white wine
Look out chardonnay, pinot grigio is on to you. This crisp, easy drinking white wine may not dominate the market, but it sure gives chardonnay a run for the money. Yet pinot grigio ( pronounced pea- NOH GREE- gee- oh) leads a double life. It’s also called pinot gris ( pronounced gree), a far different wine in style. But both wines are made from the same grape.
Pinot grigio hails from northern Italy’s Alto Adige and Veneto regions. There, pinot grigio is dry, light and crisp with citrus flavors. Pinot gris comes from France’s Alsace region, where the wines are medium bodied and highly aromatic, with notes of white flowers, pear, apricot and spice. Both pinot grigio and pinto gris are versatile, food- friendly wines thanks to their fresh acidity.
The wines are white, but the grapes are actually a grayishpink — and that’s where the name comes from. Gray is gris in French and grigio in Italian.
Amador County, Carneros, Clarksburg, Livermore Valley, Napa Valley, Santa Clara Valley
Guglielmo Winery, Kirigin Cellars, Luna Vineyards, Swanson Vineyards and Vino Noceto all produce pinot grigio wines. Longevity Vineyards makes a refreshing pink rosé of pinot grigio, with fresh berry flavors. Try the pinot gris from Ancien Wines, Fenestra Winery and Las Positas Vineyards.
Pinot grigio is fresh and completely dry, with bright citrus notes and a clean finish. Pinot gris has more texture and body: It’s creamier and coats your mouth more. It can be slightly offdry, but you’ll find most California pinot gris is dry. Pinot gris has more apple, pear and stone fruit flavors and a hint of caramel and baking spice on the finish. Both wines should be drunk relatively young. If you’re a chardonnay drinker, change things up with a glass of pinot grigio.
$ 15-$ 28 Pick out a few bottles of each and do a blind taste test to see if you can tell the pinot gris from pinot grigio and which you prefer. And if you like both styles, more wine for you!