One of the most popular imported wine styles in America is Pinot grigio. Nearly all of the Pinot grigio consumed in the US comes from Italy, but as we shall see this is likely to change soon. Pinot grigio is very popular with consumers, but it receives mixed reviews from wine judges and wine critics.

One reason may be that wines made from Pinot grigio do not have a consistent and distinctive varietal character. Consumers are just attracted to the crisp which goes well with a wide variety of foods.

Another problem is that there are two names for the variety in common use. The names Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris mean Grey Pinot in Italian and French respectively. 'Pinot' refers to the characteristic pine one shaped bunch of this group of varieties.

In Australia, winemakers, marketers and wine writers havent really sorted out which name to call the variety. Some have dodged the issue and refer to Pinot G. This variety closely is related to the much better Pinot Noir variety and is believed to be a mutation of Pinot Noir. In fact in the vineyard Pinot grigio is difficult to distinguish from its putative ancestor until the berries ripen when those of the grigio will have much less pigment. There is another variety, Pinot blanc which has little or no pigment in the berries.

There is considerable clonal variation within the variety. Jancis Robinson says that the variety hardly knows if it is a dark or a light grape. It has several synonyms including Burot and Malvoise in France and Rulander and Tokayer in Germany. In Europe the variety is widely planted. Given the inherent variation and geographic dispersion it is hardly surprising that a wide range of wine styles are produced from it. In Alsace under the name of Tokay d'Alsace, it produces a rich, almost oily wine. In Northern Italy the Pinot Grigio's are light and even spritzig. Under the name of Rulander in Germany it produces wines somewhat similar to white burgundies.

The variety has attracted serious interest in Australia only over the past few years. It is now producing some remarkable wines in regions such as the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and the Adelaide Hills. Casella wines in the Riverina wine region are very interested in this variety. They believe they can make first class wines even in warmer wine regions, and are devoting some resources to developing a wine suitable for export to the US. Remember Casella is the company who developed the yellowtail range of wines which exploded onto the US market a couple of years ago.

There is a great deal of experimentation with the variety and it may take several more years before the optimal combination of terroir and winemaking technique emerges. In the meantime some great wines are already available for those who are looking for new experience. The style varies from light bodied and fairly straight forward to rich and complex wines that are almost overwhelming in their voluptuousness. This is one occasion when reading some tasting notes about a particular wine before buying is worthwhile.

About The Author Darby Higgs is an expert on varietal wines in Australia. You can see more about pinot grigio on his website at http://www.vinodiversity.com/pinotgrigio.html. Wine Society and More Pinot Gris Or Grigio, This Grape Makes Great Wine One of the most popular imported wine styles in America is Pinot grigio. Nearly all of the Pinot grigio consumed in the US comes from Italy, but as we... Click Here to Read More About Wine ... Wine Society Items For Viewing The FTD Perfect Compliment Bouquet - Standard The perfect blend of tone and hue (and fragrance too)! Simply gorgeous yellow blooms tightly arranged in a planter. B22-3278S Price: 56.99 USD Wine Society in the news Candidates spar over Question 1, school merger (Portsmouth Herald) Fri, 31 Oct 08 03:06:30 -0700 YORK, Maine and#8212; While most voters spent Thursday night answering the door for trick-or-treaters, two candidates for state Senate and four for the House of Representatives spent their night answering questions about education, taxes and the economy... The Apathetic Singaporean? Fri, 31 Oct 08 01:49:41 -0700 This article was first published in The Online Citizen. In order to make a difference in the climate of socio-political awareness, we do have to question ourselves too - are we opposing for the sake of opposing? Recently, two incidents made me think about how much our average Singaporean cares about his or her country and fellow citizens. Is it the sense of superiority that makes one shy away from his less fortunate fellow men? Is it the comfort zone that we are cocooned in that makes one tur Wine Clubs - Good Idea For You? Fri, 31 Oct 08 01:33:17 -0700 by Summer Wilde Are you uncertain what wines to try? Do you always buy the same one? Would you like a regular supply of wines delivered directly to your home? If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you should consider joining a wine club. Wine clubs have become very popular in recent years and offer many benefits to wine lovers. The primary advantage of joining a wine club is being able to enjoy a regular shipment (usually monthly or quarterly) of expertly selected wines. U A Rapid Tour of Spain Fri, 31 Oct 08 00:53:16 -0700 by Ada Denis With over fifty million holidaymakers inspecting Spain each year, this common West European country must have something remarkable which draws the visitor. What exactly is it …? The most-valuable beauty of this stunning land can be added up in just one word - variety - and, as you all well know, variety is the spice up of life! Whether you are relating to its clime, geography, story, culture or cuisine … there is something to attract to all tastes, ages and pockets. The tourer b The Chronicle Wine Selections: Ribera del Duero (San Francisco Chronicle) Fri, 31 Oct 08 00:27:06 -0700 Tempranillo - one of Spain's important red grape varieties - is the most produced wine in Ribera del Duero, where it is also called Tinto Fino and occasionally Tinta del Pais. Officially established in 1982, the Ribera del Duero appellation is north of Madrid... International Wine Wine Bars Labels: Glass Bottles Posted by Dave Jones | 0 comments 0 Comments: Post a Comment << Home About Me Name: Dave Jones Location: Atlanta, Iowa, United States I am a wine lover. My vacations take to some of the finest vineyards in the workd. I have been studying fine wines for over 15 years. View my complete profile Newsletter Previous Posts 10/29/08 - Make Wine Tuesday - Wine Com October - Vine October 25, 2008 - Dessert Wine October 2008 - Napa Wine Wednesday 10/22/08 - Wine Chillers 10/22/08 - White Wine October 21, 2008 - Wine Delivery Monday - Wine Descriptions October 2008 - Wine Spectator Wines Information Blog - Copyright © 2008