WHITE WINE / Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris and is planted throughout North Eastern Italy in the regions of Veneto, Alto Aldige and Friuli. In the latter two regions it produces small quantities of high quality wine with the most complex examples from Friuli having an aromatic profile of white blossoms, white stone fruits and terrific texture and mouthfeel. Examples from Alto Aldige are renowned for their lighter weight and purity of aromatics. The majority of Pinot Grigio produced in Italy comes from the plains surrounding the Veneto, where it is cropped at higher levels and sold as bulk wine, resulting in neutral, crisp everyday drinking white table wines. The variety has seen increased plantings in Australia, predominantly in the King Valley and Mornington Peninsula. The term Pinot Grigio often appears on Australian wine labels to indicate a lighter, fresher Italian style wine, whereas Pinot Gris often, but not always, is used to denote a richer style often with a little residual sugar.

Sources:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, (ed) Jancis Robinson