ONLINE TASTING - Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio - what's the difference?

not Gris or Pinot Grigio – will the real Pinot please stand up? They are of course different names for the same grape, but it’s a grape that performs very differently in different parts of the world. But which is better – the light, crisp version as commonly found in Italy that goes under the ‘Grigio’ label, or the fleshier, spicier style more common to Alsace in France? And where do non-European interlopers sit on the scale between these two? Here’s a chance to find explore the different faces of Pinot Gris/Grigio, and to see which you prefer – you may be surprised! I would recommend buying in advance:

• 1 bottle of Italian Pinot Grigio: the regions to look for are Trentino and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and the more you pay, the better the wine will be – don’t be surprised if sub-£7 bottles disappoint…
• 1 bottle of French Pinot Gris: Alsace Pinot Gris isn’t widely stocked, but you should find some in Morrisons and Waitrose
• 1 bottle of New Zealand Pinot Grigio/Gris: most examples will be labelled Pinot Grigio, the easiest to find labels include Villa Maria, Brancott Estate and The Ned

For food pairings, stay away from red meats and you won’t go far wrong. Definitely worth seeing if you can persuade (OK, bribe…) younger members of the family to go out every half hour for fresh fish and chips… One ticket will entitle everyone in your household to attend this tasting – make sure you have enough wine to go around!