Pinot Gris

Also known as

Pinot Grigio/Gris, Grauburgunder, Petit Gris

Pinot Gris, also called Pinot Grigio, Grauburgunder, or Ruländer, is a somatic mutation (a spontaneous change in the vine's own tissues) of Pinot Noir: the two share the same genetic profile and differ mainly in berry-skin pigment. It has been known in Burgundy since the Middle Ages, possibly as Fromenteau. It spread to Switzerland by 1300 and reached Hungary in 1375, when Cistercian monks planted cuttings on the Badacsony slopes beside Lake Balaton.

Today the grape grows in about 20 countries, totaling 68k hectares in 2023. Italy leads with 45 percent of global plantings, followed by the United States, Germany, Australia, France, New Zealand, Hungary, and Romania. The two classic styles come from Alsace, where it is labeled Pinot Gris, and northern Italy, where it is called Pinot Grigio. In Germany it is known as Grauburgunder or Ruländer.

Its berries are grey-pink to copper, so wines can range from pale gold to copper or even faint pink. Italian Pinot Grigio is usually picked early and made into a light, crisp, refreshing white, while Alsatian Pinot Gris is richer and fuller, with lower acidity, higher alcohol, and an oily texture that can show tropical fruit, honey, and botrytis notes.