Inexpensive Pinot Grigio is the Ikea of the wine world - let's face it. While when we're first old enough to go there, it's hugely exciting and grown up but soon, we realise that it's not exactly inspiring. Sure, amongst the clean, neutral lines you get the occasional flash of a fruit shape on those beige curtains (pear?), but so often it's just plain old glug-glug. Pinot Grigio has become a relatively inexpensive and recognisable brand that does the job until you can afford to graduate onto more exciting and perhaps more expensive things.It has always amazed me that one of the most widely drunk white wines in the UK is something so neutral and uninspiring. While there are some fabulous Pinot Grigios hidden away out there, these are just not the wines you see in your average pub or restaurant over here. But it can be great - really. You just need to know where to look!
So, before we look for some good ones, what is Pinot Grigio anyway?
Pinot Grigio is the grape, hailing from Italy but now also found in many places around the world. It's the same grape as Pinot Gris - 'Gris' is just French for 'Grey' whereas 'Grigio' is the Italian word.
When a wine is Pinot Gris however, you will often find that there's a slight difference in style. The stony, neutral character is replaced with more texure, aromatics and general, sweet ripeness.
Why not explore this grape a bit? It can make a very beautiful wine if you look further than the pub!
Tasting Tour:
Start cheap and Italian from the Veneto: this is the 'Ikea' version: clean, neutral, with some stone fruit and white flower character if you're lucky. Highly gluggable!
Next, stay in Italy, but try the region of Friuli. These wines have a little more weight and character.
Alsace for richer, more weighty wines with a floral note. This is Pinot Gris territory.
America's North West is a fabulous place to grow Pinot Gris. Try something from Oregon today: http://www.northwest-wine.com/Pinot-Gris.html
California impressed me recently with some round and ripe Pinot Grigios with character and texture. We just can't find them easily over here in the UK! I liked this place: http://www.benesserevineyards.com
Digiboy doesn't believe me that this wine can have character. We'll soon see about that...
Winebird x
