Pinot Grigio is a popular white wine grown throughout the world. It’s light bodied, tangy, and easy-drinking. Some of the best Pinot Grigio food pairing options are obvious like seafood, chicken, and vegetables but read on for specific matches and why the wine pairings works. I’ve also included some foods that pair with Pinot Grigio that you may not have thought of before.
It should be noted that Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape variety. Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir and is part of the Pinot family which also includes Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier. Pinot Grigio gets its name from its grayish blue/purple berries. Grigio is gray in Italian and gris is gray in French.
Generally, when a winemaker outside of Italy decides to label it Pinot Grigio they are trying to convey that it will be a crisp light wine. When a winemaker labels it Pinot Gris, they are trying to convey that it’ll be a bit more complex and fuller bodied.
Characteristics of Pinot Grigio to Consider when Pairing with Food
Pinot Grigio is a crisp, refreshing, dry white wine cultivated mainly in Italy, France, and in the United States. Pinot Grigio grown in cool climate areas like northern Italy are more tart and have lime, green apple, and lemon notes. In warmer climates like California, Pinot Grigio will have more tropical and peachy characteristics. Some Pinot Grigio may have notes of almond, melon, and honeysuckle, too. Unoaked Pinot Grigio is light bodied while some oak aged Pinot Gris has a fuller and creamier texture. These wines also have medium-to-high acidity which makes Pinot Grigio bright and refreshing. Pinot Grigio is generally quite dry though you may come across some sweeter styles, especially from California.
Aromas and Flavors of Pinot Grigio
The key to perfecting your Pinot Grigio food pairing is play with the aromas and flavors of the grape when matching with food. While Italian Pinot Grigio has more citrus so pair with lemony dishes. New World Pinot Gris from US, Australia, and New Zealand has more tropical, tree fruit, and spice flavors so pair with foods with herbs and spices. Grapes that are under ripe will provide more citrus flavors, whilst grapes that are ripe to overripe will produce more tropical and tree fruit flavors. The alcohol content can give you a clue about ripeness- lower alcohol equals less ripe and higher alcohol equals more ripe.
What does Pinot Grigio taste like?
Pinot Grigio isn’t a particularly complex wine on the palate. It has a light body with a medium level of acid so you’ll taste mostly lemon and apple flavors. It also has a low to medium alcohol level, between 11-14%. Pinot Grigio is a simple wine that should be paired with simple foods with delicate flavors.
What foods pair well with Pinot Grigio?
There are a few basic principles of wine and food pairing to follow when looking for the perfect food to pair with your favorite bottle Pinot Grigio. Wine and food pairing isn’t rocket science, we need to consider the weight, the acid, and the overall flavors. If you’re looking for a complete and totally geeky explanation of wine and food pairing, check out my ebook.
The weight of the wine and the weight of the food need to be in balance, so with Pinot Grigio food pairings, we are looking at a light wine so it needs to be paired with lighter food. Oaked Pinot Gris can handle some dishes with a bit more complexity and creamier sauces, but nothing too heavy.
Pinot Grigio matches best with fresh flavors as well since PG has lots of bright fruity notes. Consider light pasta and rice dishes with lots of herbs, fresh green salads and vegetables, chicken and turkey, and naturally fish and seafood. Anything with a white wine or lemon sauce is excellent with Pinot Grigio as well.
What foods DO NOT pair with Pinot Grigio?
Pinot Grigio is delicate and therefore is easily overpowered by red meats and heavy sauces. Avoid steaks, lamb, and goat, heavily spiced foods, meat sauces, and stews. Unless it’s a sweeter style of Pinot Grigio, desserts aren’t great with it either.
Seafood with Pinot Grigio
The higher acidity and light body of Pinot Grigio makes it an excellent companion for seafood meals or anything you would squeeze a lemon on. Crab cakes or shrimp scampi, baked cod, sushi, or grilled octopus are all excellent options to pair with Pinot Grigio. Delicate shellfish like oysters and clams are perfectly balanced with Pinot Grigio’s delicate flavors. Ceviche and smoked salmon are also personal favorites with Pinot Gris from Oregon.
Pinot Grigio Cheese Pairing
I’ve always been a big fan of white wines with cheese more so than reds. Pinot Grigio cheese pairings should include the mildest cheeses you like. Mild goat cheeses, fresh mozzarella, mild cheddars, brie, and gouda are great cheese with Pinot Grigio. A slightly sweet Pinot Grigio pairs nicely with gorgonzola and feta.
Vegetables with Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio’s herbal and green character make it an excellent match for green salads and fresh summer vegetables like zucchini, lettuces, and cucumbers. It complements crunchy raw veggies with ranch dip, tempura vegetables, rice with stir fried vegetables, or veggies burgers.
Poultry with Pinot Grigio
The most common Pinot Grigio food pairing and what you’ll see on the back of every PG bottle is pairs with poultry. It does though! Poultry like chicken and turkey are lighter meats that are not overpowered by the light body of Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio goes particularly well with chicken dishes that are marinated in lemon or white wine. Worth noting that Pinot Grigio is usually quite inexpensive and makes a great cooking wine. Chicken and turkey salad sandwiches are a great match with Pinot Grigio as well, especially since PG is low in alcohol and is guiltless at lunch time.
Pasta dishes with Pinot Grigio
Light pasta meals, specifically those with vegetables or fish, are also popular. Match Pinot Grigio with a pasta primavera, shrimp scampi with linguini, or the super traditional pasta dish from Fruili, Lasagna con Semi di Papavero.
Pinot Grigio Food Pairing Chart
- Cheeses: Gouda, Gruyère, Mozzarella, mild cheddar, mild goat cheese, feta
- Snacks: Crudite, Hummus, Chips with mild salsa, fruit platter
- Seafood tostada bites
- Risotto primavera
- Grilled halibut
- Seared scallops
- Poached salmon
- Oysters
- Chicken and most poultry
- Sushi
- Antipasto
- Pork tenderloin
- Fried calamari
- Plain Cheese or White Pizza
- Macaroni and Cheese
Where is Pinot Grigio grown?
Pinot Grigio is grown in Alsace in France where it’s called Pinot Gris. The northeast are the main regions of Italy where you’ll find Pinot Grigio, namely Alto Adige, Friuli, and Trentino. Just over the borders of Italy, you’ll also find Pinot Grigio growing in Slovenia and Austria. In the US, it’s grown in Oregon and California. Oregon generally labels it Pinot Gris and are a better quality. In California, a huge chunk of Pinot Grigio is grown for bulk cheap wine and it’ll be labeled Pinot Grigio. There’s also some great expressions of Pinot Gris coming out of Australia and New Zealand.
Italian Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is often regarded as Italy’s white wine though it’s relatively rare there and allocated mostly to the northeast of the country. It will taste different depending on the sub-region, but it will be light, tart and tangy. The traditional form of Pinot Grigio is refreshing and rather delicate. Dominant aromas and flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple. Italian Pinot Grigio food pairing options will be the lightest and most delicate foods listed.
French Pinot Gris
As previously stated, the variety is called as Pinot Gris in France, and it is quite different from what you would taste in Italy. The climate in Alsace, the northerneast part of France on the German border, is milder, but the elevated vineyards receive a lot of sunlight and ripen more resulting in a larger concentration of fruit. This region’s Pinot Gris will have greater body, alcohol, and less acidity. The wines will have flavors of juicy yellow apple, peach, and pear, as well as undertones of honey, ginger, and spice.
French Pinot Gris food pairing options will be with the more complex foods listed. Alsace is particularly famous for its Vendange Tardive (late harvest) styles which are sweet dessert wines which are great with fruit tarts and apple pies.
California and Oregon Pinot Grigio
As I mentioned earlier, Central Valley grows the most Pinot Grigio in California. I used to live there, it’s a dreadful place. The Central Valley of California is home to the 2 largest wine companies in America. The Pinot Grigio you’ll find here surely isn’t the best, but it’s super cheap and found in every grocery store. The bulk Cali Pinot Grigios pair best with the back porch on a hot summer day but also with salads, vegetables, and as an apertif.
Very generally speaking, the best Pinot Grigio from California will be labeled as Pinot Gris to differentiate itself from PG that may have foot on the label. These come from areas like Los Carneros, Santa Barbara, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma. The Pinot Grigio food pairing options here would be with roasted chicken, risottos, and heavier fish like salmon and halibut.
Pinot Gris has really found a home in Oregon state. The Pinot Gris here is affordable and versatile. There’s lots of different expression of the grape. I’ve had a few Pinot Gris from Oregon that have been aged in barrels which were fuller-bodied, creamier, and delicious. These types of PG can pair with heavier dishes with cream sauces or even heavier meats.
Australian and New Zealand Pinot Gris
The winemakers in the southern hemisphere are making some delicious expressions of Pinot Grigio, or more commonly labeled Pinot Gris. Tasmania and Victoria regions of Australia make great PG. In New Zealand, look for Pinot Grigio from Marlborough and Central Otago. Truthfully, some of the most successful food and wine pairings I’ve ever had have been with this New Zealand Pinot Gris– one with ceviche and the other with salmon carpaccio.
Serving Recommendations for Pinot Grigio
The flavors of Pinot Grigio/Gris are considerably enhanced when served cold. Italian Pinot Grigio should be served straight from the refrigerator and kept in an ice bucket. Pinot Gris should be served about 10-15 minutes after it’s been taken out of the fridge. More tips on proper serving temperature of wine can be found in this article.
People also ask these questions about Pinot Grigio Food Pairing
What meat goes well with Pinot Grigio?
The best meat with Pinot Grigio is poultry and pork. Stick to the white meats because they are lighter meats to match the light body of Pinot Grigio. Chicken breast, turkey salad, pork loin are all good pairings with Pinot Grigio.
Does Pinot Grigio go with Italian food?
Of course Pinot Grigio goes with Italian food but considering there are over 20 regional styles of Italian food, stick to Northern Italian cuisine where Pinot Grigio is planted.
Does Pinot Grigio go with pasta?
Yes, Pinot Grigio does go with pasta. Pinot Grigio would be excellent with pasta primavera, spaghetti aglio e olio, or even seafood pasta dishes like shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta.
Does Pinot Grigio go with spicy food?
A really fruity style of Pinot Grigio can pair well with spicy food. Pinot Grigio doesn’t have a lot of alcohol or any tannins which are things that clash with spicy foods. Green curry, pad thai, or fish tacos would be as spicy as I would go with Pinot Grigio.
FAQ about Pinot Grigio
Is Pinot Grigio dry?
Pinot Grigio is a dry white wine. Some producers make Pinot Grigio into an off-dry style. There are even some California producers who are making sweet Pinot Grigio, but this is written on the label as such. Most of the Pinot Grigio from Italy will be dry.
How long can you keep Pinot Grigio?
Pinot Grigio is a wine that is not made to age. When buying Pinot Grigio, look for the most recent vintage. Pinot Grigio is best when it is young and fresh to preserve the citrusy and fruity flavors. That means if it is 2022, you want to look for Pinot Grigio from 2020 and 2021. Keep in mind that the southern hemisphere harvests grapes in February and March so the wines from those vintages will appear on your shelf by the end of the year. The 2021 vintage from the northern hemisphere hits shelves in the spring of 2022.
Is Pinot Grigio light bodied?
Pinot Grigio is a light bodied wine. This means it has a lower alcohol level as well as being less viscous. Light-bodied wines have the weight of skim milk whereas full-bodied wines will feel more like whole milk or cream.