Perhaps the most popular of all Pinot wines is Pinot Grigio. According to Rita Orrù, senior winemaker at Ruffino, Pinot Grigio “distinguishes itself with an intense and elaborate aroma that offers notes of ripe pear fruit, peaches and spices, a piquant flavor and medium acidity.” He adds that another reason for the uniqueness of this variety is the noticeability of the vines. It has “diminutive leaves and a compact, cylindrical and brief cluster.” The titular grape berries “are pink and spherical, with a swollen and slender skin.”
“Historically, the ideal region for growing it is Alsace in France,” he explains. In fact, the same white grape grown in Italy, known as Pinot Grigio, also grows in France, but is called Pinot Gris. Experienced wine lovers may notice the Pinot Gris variety on wine lists. Despite the same grapes, Pinot Gris is a completely different wine, more medium-bodied, sweeter and has lower acidity due to the climate and territory of France.
Over time, Orrù admits that Pinot Grigio has become more and more widespread in wine regions around the world. He considers the United States, Italy, Germany, Australia, Hungary and Up-to-date Zealand to be the best.
Orrù produces Pinot Grigio in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Lombardy because the grape grows particularly well in this chilly climate. However, he also notes that “captivating expressions” of Pinot Grigio can be found in central and southern Tuscany.
While Pinot Grigio is always delicious, there are noticeable differences in the bottles produced in different parts of the globe. “Aroma and taste” are particularly susceptible to change depending on the production area, Orrù emphasizes.
“Pinot Grigio, obtained from grapes grown in places with a constant and chilly climate, will have excellent body and structure, with a velvety and supple taste, with aromas of flowers and fruits and a pleasant aftertaste with a balsamic note,” he says. . “On the other hand, wine grown in places with wide temperature fluctuations will produce wine with exclusively fruity aromas and extraordinary body and flavor.”
He also mentions the versatility of Pinot Grigio. Those who prefer aperitifs are in luck and can enjoy every sip. If you’re looking for a savory white wine to accompany your meal and are serving fresh cheeses, vegetable pâtés, fish dishes or white meat, grabbing a bottle of Grigio will please your guests from soup to nuts.
