Pinot Gris

The white grape variety Pinot Gris has a Champagne today only has historical significance. Champagnes are now only produced from the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grape varieties. However, as this grape has historically played a significant role in the development of Vin Gris and early Champagnes, a brief discussion of this equally excellent grape variety is appropriate.

As early as the beginning of the 16th century, there were primarily two blue grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and one white grape variety (Pinot Gris or Fromenteau) in Champagne. The alternative name for Pinot Gris, Fromenteau, is repeatedly mentioned in historical documents. Pinot Gris was later displaced by the noble Chardonnay grape. However, the Pinot Gris grape is said to have been cultivated to a limited extent in the Champagne region until the beginning of the 20th century.

As the name suggests, Pinot Gris is a grape variety from the famous Pinot family. The grapes appear grey to pink when ripe. In Germany, the grape variety is known as Rüländer and Grauer Burgunder. Even today, it is sometimes referred to as Tokay d'Alsace in Alsace, although 'Tokay' or 'Tokajer' is actually the name for a famous wine from Hungary, which is based on the Furmint grape variety, which is not related to Pinot Gris.

The Pinot Gris grape produces richly flavoured, fiery, spicy wines. This vine is probably a mutation of the Blue Burgundy or Pinot Noir from Champagne and Burgundy. This mutation is also confirmed by the phenomenon that red, white and blue grapes can be found on the same vine at the same time.

 

 

 

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