“Pinot Grigio” is a wine with an extremely complicated history. The vine variety got its name because of the dense small clusters, similar to a pine cone. We have this grape known as Pinot Gris.
Literally, this translates as "gray bump." But color is not the main distinguishing feature. Over the centuries, the ancient Pinot Noir variety (black) has repeatedly mutated, giving rise not only to "gris", but also to "blanc" (white). After studying the DNA of the vine, scientists came to the conclusion that grapes were known in the
early Middle Ages in Burgundy and Champagne, where it was called "Fromento."
Through the wide valleys of Switzerland, cuttings fell into northern Italy, where they got their modern name - “pinot grigio”. The wine from these cone-shaped gray-pink clusters growing on the southern slopes of the Alps is fresh with a light peach aroma. Exactly what you need on a hot summer afternoon. Italians so use it - young (4-12 weeks after the end of fermentation). Stand it in steel tanks so that the drink remains refreshing and does not pick up woody notes from barrels.
Due to the popularity of Pinot Grigio, they tried to produce wine south of Lombardy and the Veneto region, right up to Sicily. But the cold-loving vine, although it gave a generous harvest, still did not manifest itself that way. The wine came out meager, plain, expressionless. It is used as a table (for cooking) or in a blend with other varieties to improve color. Emperor Charles IV ordered the Pinot Gris to be planted in Hungary. There, the variety was called "Surkebarat" - "gray monk." And already from Hungary, the vine arrived in the vicinity of Strasbourg, where it was dubbed the “Alsatian Tokaj”.
In 1711, a certain Johann Seger Ruland began to cultivate Pinot Gris in the German land of Palatinate. In honor of him, the vine and wine were christened Ruländer. As you can see, “Pinot Grigio” is a wine with many names. Thanks to its love of a cool climate, the vine grows well in a fairly wide area. It is grown in Ukraine (Crimea, Odessa region), in Moldova, of course, in Hungary, and also in the US states of Washington, Oregon, California. The vine returned to its homeland, where it had already been forgotten by replacing it with “gamma” and “grenazh”. There she participates in the creation of famous champagne wines.
Technologically, Pinot Gris wine is very flexible. In the case of a long fermentation, alcoholic wines can be obtained. If you harvest late, when the leaves on the vine are already yellow (Vandage Tardiv), the berries gain so much sweetness that you can make dessert and liquor drinks. In Russia,
white dry
wine “Pinot Grigio” is more popular. To buy a quality product, choose bottles from the Lombard Oltrepo Pavese, from the Alto Adige or Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions.
The difference in climate and soil, time of harvest, technological process greatly affects the Pinot Grigio wine. The price for an Italian product in Moscow starts at 600 rubles per bottle. Inside you will find a wonderful refreshing drink with a light floral aroma and notes of ripe peach. If you buy a French product, you will get a bright, rich, full-bodied wine, which is good to eat foie gras and other gourmet snacks, as well as fish and cheeses. Crimean "Pinot Gris" is drunk for dessert along with fruits and chocolate. Alsatian "Tokaj" is good to drink fatty dishes.