Pinot Grigio has been my go-to wine for a few years now, when I’m at lunch (it pairs well with the vegetarian foods I order) or at one of the luxury recliner movie theaters I miss so much right now. Sometimes I’m rather ashamed to admit I like to drink it, since there’s so much drama when Ramona from The Real Housewives of NYC drinks it. (Yes, I’m a little reluctant to admit I watch that show, too!)
We don’t have very many Pinot Grigios in Woodinville (you can find many more Pinot Gris since we have so many French-leaning wineries around here). I’ve rounded up a few options for you to think about tasting, as we move into warmer months (finally!)
Let’s learn about Pinot Grigio from my favorite wine education site, WineFolly (it’s run by a lady who lives in Woodinville!) And from Jancis Robinson’s site, we’ll learn that it comes from a mutation of the Pinot noir grape.
Now that we’ve learned it comes from the pinot gris grape; Pinot Grigio is the Italian variety and Pinot Gris is the French style, take a look at this article from The Kitchn on the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. Learn how to pronounce it here.
I enjoyed this video on Pinot Grigio from Marc Supsic’s Best White Wines for Beginners series:
Where can we find some delicious Pinot Grigio to serve cold on summer days spent lounging around in our backyards, or guzzling on our front porches?
Start with the Pinot Grigio from Tsillan Cellars, a Lake Chelan area Italian style winery with a tasting room here in Woodinville (in the Gateway District). I actually don’t see the Pinot Grigio for sale on their website this moment – you might check with our local Woodinville tasting room to see if they have any available for curbside pickup.
Check out this adorable picnic pack of two aluminum bottles filled with Pinot Grigio! You can shop for it at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Oh how I long to once again sprawl out on a picnic blanket on the lawn at the Chateau listening to one of their free weeknight music concerts! Hopefully someday soon.
I haven’t tasted the 2018 Ryan Patrick Columbia Valley Pinot Grigio yet – it’s not available in the Woodinville tasting room at the moment, so I’ll just have to order it from their website.
Their next door neighbor Milbrandt Vineyards tasting room also has a Pinot Grigio.
I really hope I’ll be drinking it at one of their Thursday night happy hours this summer!
Martedi Winery makes some of my very favorite wines in Woodinville. I need to give up and join their club! Their Pinot Grigio is made from grapes grown in the Yakima Valley.
Wit Cellars makes a Sparkling Pinot Grigio from Washington wine! I can’t show you a pic of it because I opened it for a recent Sunday Staycation Brunch and recycled the bottle.
There’s an excellent Pinot Grigio over at Chandler Reach.
Wilridge Winery offers a Pinot Grigio – their Woodinville tasting room shares space with Sky River Mead.
I had expected Genoa Cellars to offer a Pinot Grigio, but they just blend it into their white wines.
I don’t see a Pinot Grigio on the list at Michael Florentino Cellars right now either.
Beaumont Cellars has had a Pinot Grigio in the past. Love their wines and hope they’ll offer a Pinot Grigio again!
Before you go, Check out this brand new video from Wine Folly on other white wine varieties you might enjoy if you like Pinot Grigio!
Did I forget any local Woodinville Pinot Grigios? (that say Grigio instead of Gris on the bottle?) Let me know in the comments section below!
I’m off to drink my Martedi Pinot Grigio in the sun in my backyard. Thanks for reading!
-Carrie
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