Pinot gris is the same grape as pinot grigio. It originated in Burgundy and is a member of the very famous Pinot Family. You may know pinot noir (dark grape) and pinot blanc (white grape). Pinot gris translates to the “gray” grape in French, although the grapes look more like an off-pink. It fell out of favor in Burgundy over time, but became a staple of the region of Alsace, Germany, Austria and Italy (where it was it was dubbed “pinot grigio”, a name that always reminds me of that little mouse from Ed Sullivan). The coolest thing about pinot gris is that it is a chameleon grape, like its other family members. It truly is an expression of the land in which it grows. In this class, we will focus on the warmer climate “Pinot Gris” wines that tend towards riper pear and peach fruit flavors with a bit fuller texture.
