There are many reasons to enjoy a bottle of wine - a celebration, catching up with friends or to complement food. And with so many reasons to pop a bottle all centred around food, it can be hard to know what to pair with what.
Luckily, there are food-friendly varieties that make the perfect partner for just about anything! Great with some grilled seafood on a summer’s day and decadent paired with a Sunday roast chicken during the colder months – Pinot Gris! Or is it Pinot Grigio?
When it comes to the name – Pinot Gris, the French variety, and Pinot Grigio, the Italian – they both mean grey, as the grapes are famously deep grey in colour for a white variety. Both Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio come from the same grape, but there are some differences in the wine style. The general rule of thumb is that in France, Pinot Gris grapes are picked later, allowing for a riper and more textured, complex style of wine. The Italians pick the grapes early however, to produce dry, crisp, light-bodied wines with citrus aromas.
In Australia, tradition is a little more relaxed. You’ll find both on the shelves at your local bottle shop, produced in some of the most premium wine regions around the country where winemakers are free to get creative – perfecting either style or encompassing the perfect mix of both.
Whilst this variety is indeed struggling with what appears to be a minor identity crisis, its popularity is doing just fine. Australians have made themselves very familiar with the variety, with Pinot Gris/Grigio becoming one of the fastest-growing retail categories in the country with over 3,700 hectares of total plantings. While being used in most wine regions in Australia, it is especially suitable in cooler climates such as Tasmania, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, and Mornington Peninsula to name a few.
Drinkers of a typical Australian Pinot Gris/Grigio will note flavours of apple, pear and spice as well as its diverse heritage style ranging from elegant and crisp to silky and complex. Due to this wine's naturally high acidity, it’s best to avoid pairing it with other high-acid foods like tomato or citrus fruits. Seafood, light pastas or cheese boards are perfect!
At Edenvale, our de-alcoholised Pinot Gris meets the same standards as that of its traditional alcoholic counterparts. It’s well-balanced, vibrant and juicy with that notable signature ‘Gris’ texture. With flavours of ripe stone fruit, poached pear and apricot, Edenvale’s Pinot Gris forms part of the Classic Collection, and is proudly Australian-made from premium South-eastern Australian wine grapes – the perfect dinner companion.
Select Edenvale wines are available at major supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles and IGA, bottle shops including Dan Murphy’s, as well as independent retailers across Australia and retailers around the world.
Alternatively, you can order the full range of Edenvale alcohol-removed wines directly via our online shop.