What is Pinot Gris? Most likely you've heard of Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio is that dry, light white wine from Italy. You'll find at least 10 of them from Italy in most any wine store. You know, all of those cute shaped bottles in the Italian row.... Pinot Gris is the same grape as Pinot Grigio. The same grape is called Pinot Beurot in Burgundy (France), Tokay d'Alsace in Alsace (France) and Rulander in Germany. In the US Pacific Northwest, that grape is known as Pinot Gris (pronounced pee-no-gree).
Pinot Grigio from Italy (and most California PG's) is light, dry and has a lemon/citrus aroma. It is typically a pale, straw color and has a light body. Pinot Gris, on the contrary, has a more floral, fruity aroma with a slightly heavier body and more golden color. Don't get me wrong...it is a dry white wine but it has more aroma and floral overtones. Because of this, it will match up to many dishes including grilled pork and chicken. It is also a great wine for an aperitif.
The Van Duzer Estate 2007 Pinot Gris is a nice example of an Oregon Pinot Gris. It has a light golden color and hints of melon and fig on the nose. Fruity, but not over the top, it has enough body to accompany many meats. I paired it with a thick, center cut pork chop that I seasoned and grilled along with Mushroom risotto and steamed broccoli.
Oregon Pinot's can be pricey. Most Pinot Noir's from Oregon are in the $20-$30 price range with higher end bottles in the $40-$60 range. Pinot Gris wines are also more pricey than their California PG counterparts. You'll find plenty of California and Italian PG's in the $10-$15 range. You should expect to pay $15-$20 for an Oregon Pinot Gris. Other labels to look for are Firesteed, Adelsheim, Elk Cove, Benton Lane and Tangent.
Rating: Very Good
Price: $16-$18
Pinot Grigio from Italy (and most California PG's) is light, dry and has a lemon/citrus aroma. It is typically a pale, straw color and has a light body. Pinot Gris, on the contrary, has a more floral, fruity aroma with a slightly heavier body and more golden color. Don't get me wrong...it is a dry white wine but it has more aroma and floral overtones. Because of this, it will match up to many dishes including grilled pork and chicken. It is also a great wine for an aperitif.
The Van Duzer Estate 2007 Pinot Gris is a nice example of an Oregon Pinot Gris. It has a light golden color and hints of melon and fig on the nose. Fruity, but not over the top, it has enough body to accompany many meats. I paired it with a thick, center cut pork chop that I seasoned and grilled along with Mushroom risotto and steamed broccoli.
Oregon Pinot's can be pricey. Most Pinot Noir's from Oregon are in the $20-$30 price range with higher end bottles in the $40-$60 range. Pinot Gris wines are also more pricey than their California PG counterparts. You'll find plenty of California and Italian PG's in the $10-$15 range. You should expect to pay $15-$20 for an Oregon Pinot Gris. Other labels to look for are Firesteed, Adelsheim, Elk Cove, Benton Lane and Tangent.
Rating: Very Good
Price: $16-$18
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