| Pinot Gris (or Tokay Pinot Gris) is a white | | | | before making its way to Oregon in the |
| wine grape of species Vitis Vinifera related | | | | 1960's. The grape is presently grown in many |
| to Pinot Noir which goes by a lot of other | | | | different areas, but prefers the relatively |
| names: | | | | cool climate of places like France, Germany, |
| | | | Italy and Oregon, where the long (but not too |
| Pinot Grigio (Italy) | | | | hot) summer days mingled with cool autumn |
| | | | weather bring the grapes into perfect |
| Pinot Beurot (Loire Valley, France) | | | | ripeness. |
| | | | |
| Ruländer (Austria and Germany, Romania, | | | | Pinot Gris grapes grown in Italy (Pinot |
| sweet) | | | | Grigio) usually produce a somewhat wanting, |
| | | | light-colored wine with crisp acidity. German |
| Grauburgunder or Grauer burgunder (Austria | | | | Pinot Gris tends to be medium-bodied, with |
| and Germany, dry) | | | | good balance between sugar and acidity. |
| | | | Grapes grown in Oregon tend to produce a wine |
| Grauklevner (Germany) | | | | that is medium-bodied, exhibiting strong |
| | | | fruit flavors and aromas and superb |
| Malvoisie (Loire Valley, France and | | | | crispness. Pinot Gris produced from grapes |
| Switzerland) | | | | grown in the Alsace region of France has |
| | | | proven to show full-bodied, floral flavors, |
| Tokay d'Alsace (Alsace) (currently being | | | | and a deep viscosity with a long-lasting |
| renamed due to EU regulations) | | | | finish. |
| | | | |
| Auxerrois Gris (Alsace) | | | | Pinot Gris made from grapes grown in other |
| | | | regions can also be delicious, but generally |
| Fromentau (Langudoc, France) | | | | don't deliver the same excellent qualities |
| | | | that people have come to expect from wines |
| Fromentot (France) | | | | made in the regions listed above. California |
| | | | is one area where Pinot Gris is grown, but |
| Fauvet (France) | | | | the wines made there tend to be flabby, |
| | | | losing their complexity due to the warmer |
| Gris Cordelier (France) | | | | weather. In fact, Pinot Gris produced in |
| | | | California is often called Pinot Grigio |
| Grauer Mönch (Germany) | | | | because of the similarity in style to the |
| | | | wines from Italy. |
| Monemrasia | | | | |
| | | | Pinot Gris can be found in many places, from |
| Crvena Klevanjka (Croatia) | | | | restaurants to tasting rooms to supermarkets. |
| | | | Listed below are some of the places you can |
| Sivi Pinot (Slovenia) | | | | purchase Pinot Gris, and what it might cost |
| | | | you. |
| Szürkebarát (Hungary) | | | | |
| | | | Restaurants - Easily the most expensive place |
| "Pinot" means "pinecone" in French, and | | | | to buy wine, the restaurant offers a cozy |
| "gris" means gray. The grapes grow in small | | | | atmosphere, sometimes knowledgeable waiters, |
| clusters (hence the pinecone shape), and upon | | | | and comprehensive wine list. For a decent |
| ripening, often display a pinkish-gray hue, | | | | bottle of Pinot Gris, be prepared to pay 30 |
| although the colors can vary from blue-gray | | | | to 40 dollars or more, depending on how fancy |
| to pinkish-brown. | | | | the establishment is. One idea for frugal |
| | | | restaurant dining is to call beforehand and |
| Pinot Gris is called Pinot Grigio in Italy, | | | | ask if you can bring in your own delicious |
| and the grape is grown in many regions, | | | | bottle of Pinot Gris. The restaurant will |
| although, arguably, most successfully in | | | | charge you a nominal "pouring fee", but you |
| Alsace (France), Italy, Germany, and Oregon. | | | | won't have to shell out the big bucks. |
| In the United States, Pinot Gris has recently | | | | |
| supplanted Sauvignon Blanc as the most | | | | Supermarkets - Probably the least expensive |
| popular white wine grape next to Chardonnay. | | | | place to purchase wine, your neighborhood |
| In fact, Pinot Gris is often referred to as | | | | Safeway or Albertsons offers a variety of |
| "the other white wine". | | | | Pinot Gris at prices ranging from $7 to $20. |
| | | | Just don't expect too much help from the |
| Pinot Gris produces wines that are generally | | | | stockboy when deciding which Pinot Gris would |
| fruity in aroma, with flavors of honey, | | | | go best with osso buco. |
| apple, pear, vanilla, oak, and citrus. The | | | | |
| flavors can vary from region to region, but a | | | | Tasting Rooms - Many wineries have their own |
| good Pinot Gris will display crisp acidity, | | | | tasting rooms with dramatic views and |
| balanced with silky sweetness, resulting in a | | | | enchanting music geared to put the consumer |
| complex array of flavors on the pallet. Pinot | | | | into a wine buying-trance. If you buy Pinot |
| gris goes well with foods typically | | | | Gris from the tasting room, however, you are |
| associated with white wines, including fish, | | | | usually buying directly from the winery, and |
| seafood, chicken, pork, and Asian cuisine. | | | | won't get the big discounts that the stores |
| | | | receive. Expect to pay somewhere between 15 |
| Pinot Gris is thought to have originated in | | | | to 30 dollars for a good bottle of Pinot |
| the Burgundy region of France, and was | | | | Gris. |
| planted in Northern Europe for many years | | | | |