Is Pinot Grigio Dry or Sweet?

We are here today to talk about whether Pinot Grigio is a dry or a sweet-tasting white wine. Believed to be a descendant of the Pinot family grape the Pinot Noir, this white grape Pinot Grigio produces wines with a tropical fruit flavour and good acidity.

In this blog post today we will cover the Pinot Grigio grape, along with the sweetness levels of this grape once it has been turned into wine, the typical flavours and what food works well accompanied with this popular wine. If you would like to know more about Pinot Grigio then please keep on reading this blog post.

What Is Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a white wine grape variety thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir variety, which normally has a grey-blue colouring the grape - accounting for its name. The grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance.

Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the exact same grape, although they are produced differently to create a distinctly different taste. Pinot Grigio also tends to be mass-produced as it is popular across the world, in particular in the U.S and it is a supermarket staple for a lot of people.

Is Pinot Grigio Dry or Sweet Wine?

Pinot Grigio is considered to taste less sweet than other white wines out there and this is due to the acidity in the wine - the acidity in wine is what usually makes wine less sweet. Pinot Grigio tends to be dry or semi-sweet, it all comes down to how the winemaker makes the wine.

Although not one of the sweetest white wines out there, those people who enjoy a sweet drink are often surprised as although dry or semi-dry, the fruity flavour can contribute to the taste in a way that will also appeal to those sweet wine lovers.

What Does Pinot Grigio Taste Like?

The taste of Pinot Grigio can vary, but a typical Pinot Grigio white wine is low in sugar and tends to be medium-dry. There are some Pinot Grigios that do taste less dry, these exceptions include the late-harvest Pinot Grigio grapes that can produce sweet wine, though overall, Pinot Grigio indicates the dry everyday style of wine.

The sweetness of the wine can also depend on where in the world the wine is produced. Pinot Grigio produced in Italy is lighter, drier and zestier in taste and also has a touch of acidity, whilst French Pinot Grigio has a slightly sweeter taste. Australia and the USA produce sweet, late-harvest Pinot Grigio wines with richer fruit flavours and moderate acidity.

Some of the Common Flavours in Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio flavour has firm acidity and tropical fruit flavours with pear and apple notes. Some of those late-harvest sweeter Pinot Grigios have a luscious taste of candied lemon and subtle acidity, whilst other typical flavours include citrus, stone fruit, apple and honeysuckle.

What to Eat With Pinot Grigio?

Pinot Grigios’ notes of citrus, peach and floral aromas make for a brilliant wine option to enjoy both on its own or accompanied with food or a meal.

Its refreshingness makes it a great pairing with fresh salads and creamy cheeses as a delicate and neutral wine. Pinot Grigio pairs best with fresh flavours and ingredients as this wine has many bright fruity notes.

As a rule, Pinot Grigio will work well with anything lightweight and summery as a good pairing. Chicken and turkey are a good option, fresh green salads are perfect and seafood is also a great addition, along with other dishes such as light pasta and light risottos, containing lots of herbs to complement the wine.

What Foods to Avoid with Pinot Grigio

As Pinot Grigio is a fresh, zingy and refreshing wine, you want to avoid anything too heavy with this wine. Heavy sauces, creams or added vinaigrettes are an example of ingredients that would be considered too heavy for this fresh wine.

The Differences Between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris

The difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris is that Pinot Grigio refers to a drier, lighter Italian wine, the grape is widely grown in Italy and Pinot Grigio is considered an everyday kind of wine.

Pinot Gris on the other hand is a fruity French-style wine, riper and richer with more alcohol and sometimes a little sweetness, cultivated widely in France. There is a lower amount of natural acidity in the Pinot Grigio grape, which is where you get a refreshing, zingy and citrusy taste from.

Pinot Gris wines are full-bodied and have a tropical fruit flavour while Pinot Grigio wines are light-bodied and contain mineral and citrus flavours. Both Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris belong to the Pinot family and are both a mutation of Pinot Noir.

Pinot Gris tends to be more expensive on the whole than Pinot Grigio. Due to the popularity of Pinot Grigio, it can be mass-produced in a steel tank, which helps to cut costs and cause it to be cheaper.

Higher End Pinot Grigio

The more expensive Pinot Grigio wines tend to go through barrel ageing which mitigates the zing and acidity and enriches the fruit.

Any wine that requires some level of ageing will add to the overall price as it is a longer and more complex process for the end outcome - this is why you end up paying a higher price for the types of wines that have been through a long process to be created and aged.

This is just the same as other goods we can buy such as meat that has been through an ageing process - and other things that have to go through several steps for the end outcome like high-end leather goods.

More Affordable Pinot Grigios

Pinot Grigio can be an affordable wine to buy, it is why it is known as an ‘everyday’ wine, and one that many pick up in a supermarket. It is probably the most popular inexpensive wine you can buy whilst being the best more quality made wine on top of that.

This wine was the first wine to be produced to be both very inexpensive and better and consistent than other cheap wines on the market. That is something that people like about it too - that it is consistent - and why its customers and white wine lovers and drinkers alike, keep coming back to it time and time again.

When Is the Best Time To Drink Pinot Grigio?

If you are wondering when the best time is to enjoy a glass or share a bottle of Pinot Grigio, then the best time is to enjoy a glass or two of this popular white wine drink of choice in warm weather because it is crisp and refreshing. You can enjoy this wine in the sun whether out or in the garden, you can take it on picnics and it is the perfect summer wine.

ThinK Wine

If you like Pinot Grigio then you must try out ThinK Pink Pinot Grigio Sparkling Rosé, it is light and is an organic sparkling wine made in North East Italy, with both reduced sugar and calories.

We are really proud of our products here at ThinK Wine and our customer reviews prove that calories, low sugar and organic ingredients do not have to forfeit on the taste of the wine.