One of the most popular imported wines in the United States, Pinot Grigio is typically a light, crisp, easy drinking Italian white that should be drunk young (no more than 2-3 years), and paired with milder dishes such as chicken, fish and pastas.  Pinot Grigio is the Italian version of the Pinot Gris grape.  Pinot Gris wines – the most famous hailing from Alsace – tend to be more full-bodied and aromatic, and usually have lower acidity than their Italian counterparts.

Pinot Grigio/Gris - Snobs Need Not Apply!

So it seems that Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris is the same grape and style of wine) has its detractors who dismiss it as a simple and uninteresting wine with few bottles being called great. We think otherwise and based on the huge rise in popularity of Pinot Grigio (especially in the U.S.), we felt it right to give the varietal its just due. Jo-Ann Ross expertly leads us to understand why Pinot Grigio has ended up where it is today and gives us great information on which Pinots to look for and some pretty simple, but very useful, advice on food pairing information.