Annabelle Trayah

Wine Varietal Fact sheet

Pinot Grigio
History Known from the Burgundy region in the middle ages. It spread through the region along with Pinot Noir arriving in Switzerland in the 1300s. It was extremely popular in the Burgundy and Champagne wine regions of France until the 18th and 19th century due to poor crops and unreliable crops. Reported to be a favorite of the Emperor Charles IV, who had Cistercian Monks carry the clippings to Hungary. The Monks planted the vines on the border of Lake Balaton, on the slopes of Badacsony in 1375. The vine gained the name Szurkebarat, which means grey monk in German. In 1711 Johann Seger Ruland, a German merchant (re)discovered a grape growing wild in the fields of the Palatinate. A region in south-western Germany. The wine he made was called Rulander, and the vines were later to be discovered as Pinot gris.

Grape Characteristics

Mildly floral Light lemony flavor Notes of citrus Depending on the process the wine can either be: o Light and tangy Or o Round and full bodied Pinot Grigio from Alsace, a region in France, tend to be full-bodied with a rich floral bouquet. They are spicier compared to other Pinot Grigios. While most Pinot Grigios are meant to be consumed early Alsation wines can be consumed late. The grapes grow in small to medium sized clusters creating a cone shape, the word Pinot is French for pine cone. The grapes are medium to small in size and they come in a bluish grey to light pinkish brown hue. Each bunch can have different hued grapes.

Preferred Climate and Growing conditions.

Pinot Grigio grapes prefer to be in a cool climate. Spaced 1.8 to 2.0 meters apart to prevent berry rot. Bud-burst happens very early, but the grapes are not suitable for places that receive and late spring frost. The must can acquire a very high level of ripeness, but it must be watched because it can begin to lose acidity when near to fully ripe.

Typical winemaking practices

The grapes mature with high sugar levels, which will either give you a sweeter wine or a very dry wine high in alcohol. It is called a early to market wine because it can be bottled within 4 to 12 weeks of fermentation. The vines like to be in deep, rich, and fertile soil, it will allow some of the wines to acquire the deep full-bodied taste.

Pairing suggestions Italian Pinot Grigio especially, tend to be light and simple therefore they are best paired with:

Salads and light lunch fare Bottles from Alsace and America, mainly Oregon tend to be smokier, with strong notes of almonds, spice, and sometimes honey. They will be labeled Pinot Gris. They will be paired well with:

Light seafood Chicken breast

Smoked foods Pinot Grigio is light and usually served as a popular cocktail wine.

Creamy pastas

Synonyms
Synonym of Pinot gris Auxerrois gris Fauvet Fromentau Fromentot Grauburgunder / Grauer Burgunder Grauer Mnch Grauklevner Gris cordelier Malvoisie Monemvasia Pinot grigio Pinot beurot Rulnder Rulandsk ed Sivi pinot Szrkebart Country / Region Alsace France Languedoc France Austria Germany Germany France Loire Valley Greece Italy Loire Valley, Burgundy Austria Germany Romania (sweet) Czech Republic Slovakia Croatia Slovenia Hungary Switzerland Germany (dry)

Tokay d'Alsace ,

Alsace (renamed to Pinot gris due to EU

regulations)

Ukraine China

Bibliography

"Wine 101: Pinot Gris & Pinot Grigio." Food & Wine. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Aug. 2012. <http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/wine-101-pinot-gris-and-pinot-grigio>. "Wine Guide." Pinot Grigio. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Aug. 2012. <http://www.easyfoodandwine.com/Pinot-Grigio-Gris-Wine-Grape.html>. "Pinot Gris." Pinot Gris. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Aug. 2012. <http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/pinot_gris.htm>. "Pinot Gris." Pinot Gris. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Aug. 2012. <http://www.winegrowers.info/varieties/Vine_varieties/Pinot_gris.htm>. "Pinot Gris." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 08 June 2012. Web. 12 Aug. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinot_gris>.