Yes, apparently. Because I am not.
They are just two completely opposite styles made from the same variety.
Yes, apparently. Because I am not.
They are just two completely opposite styles made from the same variety.
Is this a Pinot Gris thread or a thread about underrated whites?
If it is underrated, I would go with Melon de Bourgogne, the grape in Muscadet.
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape. It is called Pinot Gris in Alsace (and anywhere else French speaking I suppose), where it tends to be made in a richer, textured, more “serious” style. It is called Pinot Grigio in Italy, where it tends to be made in a simple, straightforward, less “serious” style.
Because these different names are have come to be associated with different wine-making styles, producers outside of these regions tend to choose the name that best describes the style of wine they are producing. For instance, the bottle of Eyrie that started this thread is produced in a richer style, and so is labeled “Pinot Gris”. On the other hand, there are boatloads of inexpensive wines produced in California meant to be drunk right off the shelf of big box stores, and these are usually labelled “Pinot Grigio”.
I think this is the line which caused confusion and sent a couple of us to do some research to make sure we hadn’t gone crazy
Glad that’s cleared up!
I’ve had very few Pinot Gris wines of note, but a Boxler Brand bottling a few years back was the first one which opened my eyes to the high quality that PG can attain. I can’t say I’ve gone out of my way to seek out more excellent examples, though…there’s just not much of it readily available around here.
I was making a point. Your earlier post is misleading.
Thanks, Noah, I appreciate the reply.
This thread makes me want to seek out more PG. There is a pretty reliable version that is very widely distributed in these parts that can be easily found in most grocery stores: Milbrandt (catch-all Columbia Valley AVA). Another large production Pinot Gris that is decent is from A to Z (Oregon fruit). When stuck with buying a white from Safeway to take to a cookout, I’ll go for those before so many Chadonnays and Sauvignon Blancs at such retailers. As I type this, though, I realize I’ve never spent more than $15 on a bottle and should probably change that.
Hence I wrote “which style you’re talking about” as a preface to clear that confusion. Of course one might get misled if one reads just selected parts of my comment.
I think the point of this thread is that Pinot Gris can make head-turning wines, not just decent grocery store wines.
Do they still exist? I thought they went extinct a while ago ![]()
I agree, but I was responding to an apparent sighting!
Yep, I agree. I was simply agreeing that I need to broaden my horizons with regard to real basic (and enjoyable) Pinot Gris and try some of these head-turning wines.
They exist!
That’s great to know! For many years, they did not bring it in.
In some winemakers hands that’s definitely the outcome.
But hardly the fault of the grape…
Elk Cove Pinot Gris is a decent, or better, grocery store wine. Not at the same level as Eyrie but still solid and refreshing.
Regarding checking back…global warming hasn’t aided anyone in Alsace, so the “style” hasn’t changed so much as amplified. That said, many people’s introduction to 1990s Alsace was via Zind-Humbrecht. You can find producers with less of a hedonistic style still, but the region produces wines of substance for sure.
I’ve never been to Oregon, so I can only assume that the wine selection in a typical Oregonian grocery store has to be much better than here in South Florida ![]()
But you do have easy access to Florida tropical fruit wines! ![]()