Should Pinot Grigio Be Chilled? (Serving & Storage)

by Philip Thompson
19 April, 2023

Pinot Grigio, also known as Pinot Gris in France, is a grape commonly grown in Italy, but is a wine with a global reputation.

Known for its dry character and fruity personality, Pinot Grigio is a wine best served cold.

But how cold, exactly?

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In this post, you'll discover everything you need to know about ‘should Pinot Grigio be chilled’. We’ll also cover Pinot Grigio best serving temperature, storage temperature and how long you should chill it.

Do You Chill Pinot Grigio (Gris)?

Yes, Pinot Grigio should be chilled. Pinot Grigio should be served chilled between 6 - 8°C (43°F - 46°F) and stored cooler than room temperature at 11 - 15°C (51°F - 59°F).

Pinot Grigio Wine	Temperature Range
Serving Temperature	43°F to 46°F 6°C to 8°C
Storage Temperature	51°F to 59°F 11-15°C

Pinot Grigio is a very popular white wine, with lots of lemon zest, pear drop and green apple flavours.

Best Pinot Grigio Serving Temperature

Pinot Grigio Serving Temp Infographic

It is best served chilled and can reach the ideal serving temperature by being placed in a fridge or an ice bucket before serving.

The best temperature to serve Pinot Grigio is between 6-8°C (42-47°F).

It can be tricky to maintain a good serving temperature for Pinot Grigio in between pouring and this is where wine coolers can come in handy..

The characteristics of Pinot Grigio can change depending on which region the grapes are grown in.

Some of the recommended serving temperatures may differ depending on the style and type of grape.

What is the Best Storage Temperature for Pinot Grigio?

Pinot Grigio Varieties

Just like other white wines such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio is best stored slightly warmer than you would serve it.

The best temperature to store Pinot Grigio is between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).

You can help to keep your Pinot Grigio consistently at this temperature range by storing your bottles in a wine refrigerator or wine cellar that has a controlled humidity with limited exposure to light and vibrations.

How Long Should You Chill Pinot Grigio For?

How long you should chill Pinot Grigio for depends on the method you are using.

If you are using a specialist wine fridge your wine can safely be stored here for long periods of time (years), and will be ready to drink whenever you are ready.

For domestic fridges you can chill your Pinot Grigio a 2-4 hours before serving to help chill it to the required temperature.

Because of its design, try to avoid leaving bottles of wine in these fridges for longer periods of time.

If you need to chill your Pinot Grigio quickly you can use an ice bucket.

A technique used by sommeliers, place a combination of ice, water and salt into your bucket to chill your Pinot Grigio quickly.

Should You Put Pinot Grigio In The Fridge?

Wine Storage, Wine Walls, Wine Room

Yes, in order to get your Pinot Grigio to its ideal serving temperature you can put your bottles in the fridge.

Domestic kitchen fridges are often quite cold and dry, so you only need to place your bottles in these fridges a 2-4 hours before serving.

Wine fridges are a better option when it comes to chilling wine as it will help keep it at the recommended serving temperature and won’t dry out any corks in the meantime.

Try to avoid putting your wine in the freezer if you can help it, as this can alter the flavours of the wine.

3 Popular Styles of Pinot Grigio and Their Ideal Serving Temperature

Italian Pinot Grigio: Known for its dry minerality, with tasting notes of green pear and apple blossom, this style of Pinot Grigio is best served between 6-8°C or 42-47°F.

French Pinot Gris: Pinot Gris grown in the Alsace region of France can be fruitier, sweeter and have an oiler texture. Serving this style well chilled suits its characteristics best, between 5-7°C or 41-45°F

New World Pinot Grigio:When grown in countries such as Australia, New Zealand or the USA Pinot Grigio can have a more tropical flavour due to the warmer climates. Serve between 6-8°C or 42-47°F.

Related Guide: What Does Pinot Grigio Taste Like?

5 Tips on Serving Pinot Grigio

The recommended temperature for serving Pinot Grigio is between 6-8°C (42-47°F).
You can chill your Pinot Grigio by placing it in a fridge or an ice bucket before serving.
Fruitier, sweeter styles of Pinot Grigio with oilier bodies can be served at a colder temperature than drier styles with lots of minerality.
To maintain the serving temperature in between pouring you can use a wine cooler.
Store your Pinot Grigio at a warmer temperature than you would serve it, around 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).