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Varietal: Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris
Same variety, two different styles of wine. Within Europe Italian producers generally make the light, crisp wine from the grape and label it as Pinot Grigio. Producers in the Alsace region of France call it Pinot Gris and make a much richer, more developed style. Genetically identical to Pinot Noir, it is thought to have mutated in Burgundy with lighter skins to produce a slightly copper/grey colored fruit. In Germany it goes by a couple of synonyms, Rulander if vinified into a sweet wine and Grauer Burgunder (or Gray Burgundy) if dry. The grape has been exported across much of the New World with particular success in Oregon and New Zealand. Both regions take after the richer Alsation style.
Country: Italy
With vines stretching from its most southerly Mediterranean islands all the way to the foothills of the Alps, Italy has, just behind France and Spain, the most land under vines and exports more than any other country. With dozens of regions,and an even greater number of indigenous varieties particular to those regions, understanding all of Italy's wine can be a thoroughly exciting but lifetime long challenge. The most popular regions include; Piedmont, the home of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Muscato, to name a few; Tuscany, known for Sangiovese, particularly in the Chianti area and the town of Brunello; And thirdly the Veneto, for its Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. Southern Italy's regions; Abruzzo, Campagnia and Puglia, not to forget the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are a great source of food-friendly and very affordable wines.
Region: Trentino-Alto Adige
Sub-Region: Trentino
Type: White
White wine is a wine whose color can be pale-yellow, yellow-green, and yellow-gold colored. The wine is produced from a variety of grape varieties. The flavor and color comes from the juice of the grape and sometimes the skin of the grape as well. Interestingly, not all white wine comes from white grapes. Some select red grapes are used as in Champagne.