Wine snobs may look down upon Pinot Grigio, but there’s far more to the varietal than the bulk-produced brands lead many to believe.
There are excellent Pinot Grigios—produced in a wide array of styles across Italy and beyond—if you know where to look.
Since its introduction to American shelves during the late 1970s, Pinot Grigio rose to become one of the most imported wines from Italy by the mid-1990s. These savory, refreshing offerings were polar opposites to the oaked-up, buttery and often palate-fatiguing Chardonnays that once dominated the American market.
Half a century later, the Italian varietal is still wildly popular. Pinot Grigio is the second most consumed white wine in the United States, according to data from IWSR, a drinks industry analyst. In a 2022 survey, 42% of wine drinkers claimed to have had it in the past month, right behind the 47% who had reported having drunk Chardonnay.
Italian wines that were popular in the mid-1970s had no varietal indication on the labels—they were just ‘Soave,’ ‘Orvieto’ or ‘Frascati,’. Americans were increasingly looking for varietals in order to better understand wine, and they were also seeking higher-quality wines.
The wine was an instant success. Soon, other importers were bringing in a steady supply of Pinot Grigio. As demand surged, however, more and more producers began to turn out mediocre bottlings in industrial quantities.
During the last 30 years, the quality of many Pinot Grigios declined as producers did whatever it took to meet growing demand in the U.S., such as planting on valley floors at high yields with a focus on quantity, not quality.
Though there are still plenty of uninspiring bottles on the market, there are also lots of gems. Many of these high-quality bottles highlight different terroir and styles of winemaking that cater to today’s curious consumers.
To many, Pinot Grigio may seem to fit into one easy category of light white wine, but that is far from the reality. Pinot Grigio, grown across Italy, has a multitude of styles to fit any palate and pair across multiple cuisines. Exploring its diversity is what makes these wines so special and unique, so if you want a crisp and vibrant white or a lovely perfumed rosato, Pinot Grigio is here for you.
Across Italy, there are dry, mineral-driven versions with a stony or flinty finish, as well as similarly dry bottlings that boast fruitier aromas of yellow and green apples and white flowers, whereas Pinot Grigio rosato is often light, fruity and refreshing.
