About Pinot Gris White Wine

About Pinot Gris White Wine
Pinot Gris is the same grape as Pinot Grigio, but when a wine is identified as a Pinot Gris, it is generally a more full-bodied, more complex, more age-worthy wine.

The best examples of Pinot Gris come from Alsace in northeastern France and Oregon. These wines are have excellent weight on the palate, good acidity and ripe apple and pear fruit with a distinct spiciness and a dry finish. Most examples are aged only in steel, but some producers in Alsace will age Pinot Gris in large, older wooden casks, which can add a touch of spice as well as additional texture.

There are also some sweeter versions of Pinot Gris produced in Alsace; these are labeled as vendange tardives or grains nobles.

There are also versions of Pinot Gris from the far northwestern Italian region of Valle d'Aosta as well as from California.

Consume most versions of Pinot Gris at an early age, from two to five years. The finest versions of Alsatian Pinot Gris (from Grand Cru vineyards) can be enjoyed at 15-20 years of age.

Food pairings that work well with Pinot Gris include smoked fish, sushi, Asian cuisine, chicken with cream sauce or veal, pork or poultry with mushrooms.

Top Picks for Pinot Gris

Wakefield 2023 Estate Pinot Gris
94 points
$18
Best Buy
An explosion of fruit on the nose and palate that seems almost candied at first because of the ripeness, but is in fact pleasantly dry on the palate.
94 points $18 Best Buy
Underwood NV  Pinot Gris
93 points
$7
Best Buy
Easy drinking and approachable but still has layers of complexity to pair with foods as well as hold your attention as a sipper.
93 points $7 Best Buy
King Estate 2022 Domaine Pinot Gris
92 points
$30
A mix of citrus and tropical fruits with solid intensity and an array of flavors; this will be delicious on its own or with various cuisine pairings.
King Estate 2022  Pinot Gris
92 points
$19
Best Buy
Nice fruit and florals on the nose and palate with a touch of phenolics as a counterpoint, which will pair nicely to balance richer foods.
92 points $19 Best Buy
Duck Pond 2023  Pinot Gris
91 points
$15
Best Buy
A delightful, easy drinker with light tropical notes, a zippy backbone, and a bright finish.
91 points $15 Best Buy
Hector Wine Company 2023  Pinot Gris
90 points
$19
Very pretty with earth, fruit, and floral all coming together; with its great acidity it could be mistaken for an Alsatian example.
Firesteed 2023  Pinot Gris
90 points
$24
Very serious depth and concentration for Pinot Gris.
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2023  Pinot Gris
90 points
$24
A lovely concentration of fruit with some uplifting and interlaced florals; this wine tastes like sitting outside on a warm Spring day.
Stranger Wine Company 2021 Single Vineyard Pinot Gris
90 points
$36
A richer and more textured style of Pinot Gris that is reminiscent of Alsatian examples of the varietal.
Pend D’Oreille 2022  Pinot Gris
90 points
$22
Light, refreshing, and smooth with waves of orchard and stone fruits.