Wine at the Table
Pinot Grigio
The short answer
Pinot Grigio is a dry, light-bodied Italian white wine made from the Pinot Gris grape, grown mostly in northeast Italy. Serve it well chilled with light food.
- Style
- Crisp, light white, Friuli and Alto Adige
- Glass
- White wine glass
- Strength
- Typically around 12–13% ABV
Where it comes from
Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris, a grape with greyish-pink skins. In Italy it is grown mainly in the northeast — Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige — where it is typically made in a crisp, fresh, unoaked style.
What you need
- 1 bottle Pinot Grigio, chilled to about 8–10°C (46–50°F)
How Larry builds it
- 01
Chill it. A couple of hours in the fridge. Too cold and the aroma closes up.
- 02
Open and pour. No decanting needed. Pour a third of the glass.
- 03
Serve with light food. Seafood, salads, antipasti and lighter pasta dishes suit its crispness.
Larry’s rule: Pick one from Friuli or Alto Adige and it actually tastes like something.
Variations worth making
Ramato
A copper-coloured style from northeast Italy, made with brief skin contact.
Pinot Gris (Alsace)
The same grape in France, usually richer and rounder.
Questions people ask
Is Pinot Grigio dry or sweet?
Most Italian Pinot Grigio is dry, light and crisp.
Are Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris the same?
Same grape, different names. The Italian name often signals a lighter, crisper style.
Where is Pinot Grigio from in Italy?
Mainly the northeast: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige.
Does Pinot Grigio go with sausage and peppers?
It works with a lighter, less spicy version; for a rich, spicy pan a red such as Barbera has more body.
What to eat with it
Pour it like Larry
The decanters, openers and glasses Larry keeps behind the bar.
Le Chateau Hand-Blown Crystal Wine Decanter with AeratorView on Amazon →
RBT Wine Decanter with Sediment Strainer & AeratorView on Amazon →
Chateau La Derive Swan Decanter Gift SetView on Amazon →
1800ml Lead-Free Crystal Wine Decanter SetView on Amazon →
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Order Pinot Grigio with sausage and peppers at the spots on Larry’s lists:
More from Wine at the Table
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