Pinot Grigio vs. Pinot Gris

I will never order a Pinot Grigio.
But, I love a Pinot Gris.

So what’s the difference?

Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same white wine grape. Grigio is simply “gray” in Italian, while Gris is “gray” in French. If the name of this website didn’t already give it away, yes, I am partial to French wines, but this isn’t just about country of origin, it’s also about style. The same grape can make very different wines, depending on where it’s from and the winemaker’s style choices.

Pinot Grigio is typically light, crisp, and fresh with tart fruit flavors and high acidity. It can be so neutral that my sommelier program didn’t include it in any of our blind tastings and we didn’t sample a single Pinot Grigio in my Italian wine classes at Le Cordon Bleu. Maybe that’s why Pinot Grigio is so popular: it’s unoffensive. In fact, Pinot Grigio has become the most popular white wine in the world, taking the top spot from Chardonnay, according to Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine.

Pinto Gris is heavier, more rounded, with notes of honeysuckle or even chamomile. It can have higher alcohol and lower acidity than Pinot Grigio, and is often compared to Chenin Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay. Pinot Gris isn’t only found in France. This 2021 Cellar Series Pinot Gris is from Wölffer Estate on Long Island, and it’s my favorite white wine they’ve made to date.

Bottom line? I’m not a fan of most Pinot Grigio because they don’t bring enough life to the party. I’d much prefer a more flavorful Pinot Gris. But, if you’re looking for something really easy to drink, and easy to find on a menu, Pinot Grigio may just be your thing.

If you’ve never tried a Pinot Gris, there are some great, reasonably priced ones from Willamette Valley, Oregon. I’ll profile a couple of those soon!