What Makes A ‘Nice’ Pinot?

One of the commonly heard requests in any wine shop is for a “nice Pinot.” Pinot is actually the first word for a large number of wines including Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Given its incredible popularity, it is safe to assume that most of the requests refer to Pinot Grigio.

Pinot Grigio is an Italian grape variety that is responsible for a dry, white wine of the same name. Santa Margherita was the first Pinot Grigio to have an impact on the American wine drinker. The wine was found on the wine lists of many top Italian restaurants and matched nicely with the Italian cuisine.

Because Pinot Grigio is widely grown in northeast Italy, Santa Margherita’s popularity led to the appearance of competing brands. As Pinot Grigio became more popular, more vineyards were planted to Pinot Grigio. Today, there are literally hundreds of brands of Pinot Grigio available to the wine consumer in all price ranges.

Almost all restaurants will now offer Pinot Grigio as one of their house wines. These wines will usually be simple, soft, dry white wines. The wine’s popularity will lead one to see the names of Beringer, Mondavi, and even Yellow Tail offering Pinot Grigio.

These are obviously not Italian wineries, as Pinot Grigio is now being cultivated around the world. Most Pinot Grigio will not offer the complexity of classic white wines made from Riesling, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon Blanc. However, the wines are very food friendly and easy to drink.

Finding the right Pinot Grigio is very much a matter of personal preference. The wines can vary greatly in acidity, body and sweetness. Most of the wines are relatively affordable, however, which makes the quest for the perfect Pinot Grigio very easy and enjoyable.  

*Recently Tasted and Recommended: Montinore Pinot Gris.

This Oregon winery uses the name Pinot Gris rather than Pinot Grigio. They are in fact the same grape. This is a smooth, medium bodied white that will nicely accompany grilled fish.

(Newtown resident and wine enthusiast Steve Small is the general manager at Yankee Wine & Spirits on Queen Street.)