The Pinot Grigio complements any meal but sometimes it’s best by itself
Lorrie C
If you’re a wine aficionado, you know that there’s nothing quite like the fresh taste of a great vintage of wine to go with an incredible meal.
There are so many vintages to choose from; it can sometimes be a challenge to find the perfect pairing. Thankfully there’s Pinot Grigio, an incredible wine that’s been known for hundreds of years in the world’s most respected wine regions.
Pinot Grigio National Pinot Grigio Day celebrates this astonishing wine and its ability to be paired with just about anything or just enjoyed on its own!
National Pinot Grigio Day Timeline
Pinot Gris at the court of Charles IV
Records from the court of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV describe a gray-berried Pinot vine, later known as Pinot Gris, cultivated in Hungary after being brought from Burgundy.
Pinot Gris rediscovered in Germany
In the Kaiserstuhl region of Baden, producer Johann Seger Ruland reportedly “rediscovered” neglected gray Pinot vines and popularized them under the name Ruländer, helping establish the grape in German viticulture.
Pinot Gris becomes established in Alsace
Viticultural records from Alsace show significant planting of Pinot Gris (then called Tokay d’Alsace), where it developed into a fuller-bodied, spicy white wine style distinct from lighter Italian versions.
Pinot Grigio officially recognized in Italy
The Italian national register of grape varieties lists Pinot Grigio as an approved cultivar, supporting its spread in regions such as Trentino‑Alto Adige, Friuli‑Venezia Giulia, and the Veneto.
Pinot Grigio exports expand to the United States
Italian producers begin exporting large volumes of crisp, light Pinot Grigio to the U.S. market, where its approachable style and moderate price help it gain a foothold with new wine consumers.
Alsace secures AOC status for Pinot Gris styles
French regulations for the Alsace Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée solidify Pinot Gris as one of the region’s “noble” grapes, allowing production of rich, late-harvest wines labeled Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
Pinot Grigio surges as a global varietal brand
By the early 21st century, plantings of Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris expand across Northern Italy, Germany, Oregon, and New Zealand, with the grape becoming one of the world’s most consumed white varietal wines.
How to Celebrate National Pinot Grigio Day
Enjoy Some Pinot Grigio
There’s no better way to celebrate this day than by getting yourself a fine bottle of Pinot Grigio and pouring it out with some friends.
Host a Wine Tasting
Given that there are multiple varieties of this wine, it could be good to schedule a wine tasting where everyone brings a bottle of Pinot Grigio from a different region to ensure that everyone gets the chance to enjoy the wide world of Pinot Grigio.
Don’t let this holiday pass you by without taking the time to appreciate one of viticulture’s finest products!
Make Some Creative Cocktails
Why not create your own cocktail with Pinot Grigio? There are some amazing Pinot Grigio cocktails on the Internet. One of our favorites is a Hugo Spritzer.
To make this cocktail, you will need your favorite Pinot Grigio (or any old bottle!) combined with soda water, elderflower syrup, mint leaves, some wedges of lime, and some ice. It’s a refreshing cocktail, which goes down a treat.
Bake with Pinot Grigio
Did you know that you can use Pinot Grigio in a pie and tart crust? You have probably heard about creating a tender pie crust with vodka but you can also use this delicious white wine because the science is very similar.
Unlike water, gluten is not created when flour and alcohol are mixed together. If you overwork gluten, baked goods can end up tough—but you can enjoy a much more tender crust if you use less gluten.
Moreover, the touch of Pinot Grigio is going to add a bit of sweetness to the crust as well, so it’s a win-win!
Cook with Pinot Grigio
Of course, having a delicious glass of Pinot Grigio is the best way to celebrate this day! However, there are a number of other things that you can do with Pinot Grigio, aside from drinking it.
There are so many different recipes that call for Pinot Grigio. So, why not celebrate with a delicious meal incorporating Pinot Grigio and a glass of the wine to wash it down with?
Fish dishes always work really well with this type of wine. Nevertheless, there are many other recipes whereby Pinot Grigio can be incorporated.
If you’re looking for a great dinner idea to go with your bottle of white wine on Pinot Grigio day, how about a chicken cacciatore?
In some countries, the tomato-based version of this dish is more well-known. However, with this version, chicken is served with a white sauce. You can prepare this with red chillis, oil, and garlic.
You can then add some olives and a bottle of pinot grigio, cooking it for a long time so that all of the flavors are melded together properly. Ten minutes before you are finished cooking, add plenty of fresh rosemary to the sauce.
If this doesn’t sound like the right dish for you, how about a pasta carbonara? You can add more flavor to your pasta dish by adding a splash of Pinot Grigio to the pan after the pancetta has been sauteed.
There can be a gamey aftertaste to the smoked pancetta cubes, but you can get rid of this with the Pinot Grigio, which makes the pure pancetta flavor outstanding.
It really takes your dish to the next level, and this is a sort of concept that can be applied to a lot of different dishes when it comes to adding Pinot Grigio!
History of National Pinot Grigio Day
This event was established in 2017 by the Cavit winery in Trentino, Italy. But Pinot Grigio itself has a long history and shares part of its genetic heritage with Pinot Noir.
As the years went by it came to be one of the most popular vintages to be grown and produced, with over 15,000 Hectares are being used to grow the grape necessary to produce it.
If you’ve never had this fine wine and want to know how it tastes, it has been described as having an acidic, lighter-bodied flavor, most of it noted as having a recognizable ‘spiciness’ to them.
Depending on where you’re getting your Pinot Grigio from, it may come under a different name, with examples being the Auxerrois Gris from Alsace, the Grauer Monch from Germany, and the Rulander from Romania.
While the basic profile of the wine remains the same, there are variations based on where and how its produced that lead to sweeter and drier varieties being available.
National Pinot Grigio Day is your opportunity to go out and buy a bottle or ten and start sampling a delicious variety of what the world has to offer in the way of excellent wines!
Facts About National Pinot Grigio Day
Skin Color Gives Pinot Grigio Its Copper and Pink Hues
Pinot Grigio is technically a gray-pink–skinned grape, and when winemakers allow even short contact between the juice and the skins, the pigments can give the wine a copper or pale salmon tint, a style often labeled “ramato” in northeastern Italy.
A Medieval Emperor Helped Spread the Grape
Historical records suggest that Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV favored this grape, then known by French names like Pinot Gris, and encouraged its planting in Central Europe during the 14th century, helping it migrate from Burgundy into regions such as Hungary.
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris Are Genetically the Same Grape
Despite their different names and styles, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are not separate varieties; DNA profiling shows they are the same clone of Pinot that mutated from Pinot Noir, with regional winemaking traditions creating the lighter Italian “Grigio” style and the richer Alsatian and Oregon “Gris” style.
Italy Turned Pinot Grigio into a Global Bestseller
Pinot Grigio was grown for centuries in France and Germany, but it was large-scale planting in northern Italian regions such as Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige in the late 20th century that transformed it into one of the world’s best-selling white wines, particularly in export markets like the United States and the U.K.
Cool vs Warm Climate Pinot Grigio Tastes Strikingly Different
In cool regions such as Alto Adige or northern France, Pinot Grigio typically ripens with higher acidity and flavors of lemon, green apple, and pear, while warmer sites in parts of California or Australia produce fuller-bodied wines that lean toward peach, melon, and lower perceived acidity.
The Grape’s “Pine Cone” Name Reflects Its Cluster Shape
The “Pinot” in Pinot Grigio comes from the French word for pine cone, referring to the tight, conical clusters the Pinot family produces on the vine, and “Grigio” is Italian for gray, describing the grape’s grayish-blue skin color at full ripeness.
Extended Lees Aging Can Add Unexpected Richness
Although many Pinot Grigio wines are bottled young for a crisp, simple profile, some winemakers leave the wine on its spent yeast cells, or lees, for months; this sur lie aging can add subtle bread, nut, and creamy notes and give the wine a fuller texture without increasing sweetness.
