Pinot Noir Vs Pinot Grigio: What's The Difference?

To help you compare the two we’ve compiled the 7 main differences between Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio:

1. Origins

Pinot Noir is from the Burgundy region of France where it is known for making some really head-turning fine wines.

Pinot Grigio is often thought to originate from Italy, however the wine is actually a mutant of Pinot Noir!

This means the two grapes are genetically related and also come from the same region.

But if Pinot Grigio is related to Pinot Noir does that mean the grapes share the same characteristics?

2. Grape Characteristics

How can you tell the difference between a Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir grape

The main difference between Pinot Grigio and PInot Noir is the colour of their skin.

• Pinot Noir is a thin, red skinned grape which is very tricky to grow.

• Pinot Grigio grapes have a very unique grey-blue hue to their skins. The name Pinot Grigio translates to Grey Pine Cone.

3. Appearance

The colour of a grape’s skin will have a huge impact on the colour wine the grapes will make.

This can be tricker with red-skinned varieties but comes in handy when telling the difference between a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Grigio.

Pinot Noir makes a red wine because the grapes have a red coloured skin.

Pinot Grigio on the other hand makes golden coloured white wines.

These two different appearances will make the wines easy to tell apart.

4. Serving

Just because Pinot grigio is a white wine does that mean it should be chilled?

Yes, the main difference when it comes to serving Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir is that Pinot Grigio is a white wine which prefers a colder serving temperature of around 6-8°C (42-47°F).

Pinot Noir prefers to be room temperature in comparison (12-18°C or 54-65°F).

Although all wine glasses will work well you may want to serve your Pinot Noir in a Burgundy style glass and your Pinot Grigio in a smaller, white wine glass to help preserve its fresh and fruity flavours.

In order to get the most out of serving your wines it’s important to know what Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir taste like.

5. Tasting Notes

• Pinot Noir grapes make a light, delicate red wine with notes of soft violets, ripe cherries and earthy mushrooms.

• Pinot Grigio, on the other hand, has lots of fresh, zesty acidity. Think crisp green apple, sweet pear drops and zesty lemons.

Read more about what Pinor Noir tastes like here.

6. Food Pairings

Pinot Noir is a great wine for slightly tricker dishes. Ingredients like: mushroom, brie and cured meats go fantastically with the light and bright nature of Pinot Noir.

Pinot Grigio's go best with food thats zesty and fresh. Think lemony risottos, simple pasta dishes and fish dishes with lots of fresh herbs.

7. Price

Pinot Grigio is easy to grow so it grows in vineyards all over the world - which makes it a more affordable wine choice than Pinot Noir.

Because of the higher production costs involved in Pinot Noir production it is often a more expensive bottle of wine (especially when it's grown in Burgundy).

Which Is Better: Pinot Noir Or Pinot Grigio?

Whether Pinot Noir is better than Pinot Grigio is really down to personal preference.

For a fresh, white wine then there’s nothing better than a glass of Pinot Grigio.

For something with a bit more body and luscious red wine comfort then Pinot Noir is the one for you.

Related Guide: What Does Pinot Grigio Taste Like?

Before You Go...

We hope this article answers any questions you may have on Pinot Noir vs Pinot Grigio.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk

If you want to learn more about other types, consider our related blog posts:

You can browse more posts on Wine Types here.

Expert Wine Storage can help you find a luxury wine fridge to store your precious wine collection.