

When it comes to pinot grigio/pinot gris, there really isn't a one-size-fits-all model. To help you find the one for you, we’ve put together this list that gives you the best pinot grigios to drink right now, even if they go by another name. The differences are subtle, and either way, these wines are one variety with many different expressions. With this in mind, the 2018 Four Graces Pinot Gris is our top choice. On the other hand, the Italians were the ones to popularize pinot grigio’s lighter, straw-colored, crisp, and citrus-driven style.

The French and the Oregonians call it pinot gris, and in their hands, it tends to yield a slightly more vivid yellow color, spicier texture, and fuller-bodied wine. “In Alto Adige, pinot grigio flourishes under outstanding cool climatic conditions with big temperature differences between day and night,” he says, describing these conditions, in addition to good sunshine and ventilation, as “favorable for the variety.

But to say pinot gris and pinot grigio are identical wines would be misleading.Īccording to winemaker Peter Zemmer, not all pinot grigio is the same. But this cherished grape variety is also a bit of a chameleon-going by other names in other places around the world like malvoisie and pinot gris. And they do make some pretty fantastic pinot grigio. Pinot grigio is perhaps best known as the standard-bearer white wine of Italy.
