Pinot Grigio tasting notes: a worked example
See what a structured Pinot Grigio tasting note looks like, line by line, then fill in the blank sheet for the bottle in your glass. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape.
A Pinot Grigio tasting note, line by line
This is a worked example of how a note can read for the typical style of the grape. It is not a review of one bottle. Your wine will differ, so write what you find.
| Line of the note | What a typical Pinot Grigio note says |
|---|---|
| Appearance Colour and depth | Write what you see. Decanter says it is often lightly copper-coloured. Skin-contact styles (ramato) are copper-toned. |
| Nose Fruit | Ripe pear, apple and peach. Cooler places lean to citrus and green apple. |
| Nose Other | Lemon zest, green almond and a stony, gravel note. Decanter also finds some smokiness and delicate spice. |
| Palate Sweetness | Usually dry. Late-harvest wines can be sweet. |
| Palate Acidity | Medium-high. Light styles are crisp, and richer styles have more moderate acidity. |
| Palate Tannin | None. |
| Palate Body | Medium-light. Fuller, oilier versions exist. |
| Palate Alcohol | Usually 11.5 to 13.5% ABV. Check the label. |
| Conclusions Where it is from | The grape comes from France. Italy is the largest producer, where it is Pinot Grigio. Alsace, Germany (as Grauburgunder) and Oregon also make it. |
The same note in two sentences
Dry, with medium-high acidity and a medium-light body. Ripe pear and white peach on the nose, with lemon zest. Light, zesty and clean.
What to look for
- Pinot Grigio swings widely between light and zesty and full and oily. Decide which style you have before you rate body and acidity.
- Check the colour with care. A copper tint can be normal for this grape, and skin-contact versions are properly copper.
- Tick stone fruit and pear first, then the finer notes such as lemon zest and green almond.
Now write your own
Fill this in for the bottle in front of you. It saves on your device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Questions
What does Pinot Grigio taste like?
Typically ripe pear, apple and peach, with lemon zest and green almond. Light styles are crisp and zesty. Fuller styles are richer and oilier.
Is Pinot Grigio the same as Pinot Gris?
Yes. It is the same grape. Pinot Grigio is the Italian name. Pinot Gris is the French one, and Germany calls it Grauburgunder.
How do I write a Pinot Grigio tasting note?
Work in the same order every time: look, nose, palate, then your conclusions. Name the fruit, then rate sweetness, acidity and body. The blank sheet on this page follows that order.
Sources
The typical aromas, structure and regions above come from these grape guides.