If you’ve ever pondered a possible kinship between the luscious Pinot Noir and the crisp Pinot Grigio, your curiosity was justified. Their story is a vinicultural voyage into the realm of somatic mutations and grape cultivars. Let's get to the bottom of the wine barrel!

Yes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio share a moniker, but they're not merely siblings squabbling over who gets the remote. They're more akin to identical twins sporting different attires and careers. Indeed, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir are color mutations of the same grape. Astonished? Well, keep your corkscrews at the ready, because the tale gets even more intriguing.

Somatic mutation, a natural mechanism that enables plant growers to cultivate new varieties, is a driving force behind this grape's metamorphosis. It's like a botanical fairy godmother, transforming a uniform genetic background into a new grape variety! This mutation is the reason why Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir, despite being woven from the same genetic fabric, boast different colors and flavors.

The Pinot Noir grape, the ancestral grape in this story, has been around since the first century AD, with its roots in the Burgundy region of France. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and we find the first recorded evidence of Pinot Grigio in the Alsace region of France. A study conducted on the Pinot family of grape cultivars revealed a large deletion present in a single Pinot Gris cell layer, suggesting that this mutation occurred sometime during this period. It's as if Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc decided to rebel against their red ancestry and carve their own path. This led to a novel parallel evolutionary model, affectionately dubbed the 'Pinot-model’. This model is a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the formation of white, grey, red, and pink grape cultivars, and their specific enological aptitude.

Now, let's swirl our attention to Pinot Grigio. This ashy-purple grape is a proud native of the Alsace region of France. It's the life of the party, with its citrusy flavor and a hint of sass. Despite its mass production, Pinot Grigio has a unique trait. It's extremely responsive to its environment or "terroir," ensuring every bottle has its own distinctive charm. It's like a fingerprint, each one is unique.

This adaptability is signature of the Pinot family. Over the centuries, both Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio have packed their bags and expanded their territories, each finding new homes in various regions of the world.

Pinot Noir, the globe-trotting red, has found success in the cool climates of New Zealand and Oregon, USA. In New Zealand, particularly in the Marlborough region, Pinot Noir produces wines with vibrant fruit flavors, often with a hint of cherry and plum. The wines from Oregon, on the other hand, are known for their earthy and floral notes, often compared to the classic Burgundian style. But let's not forget about California, where Pinot Noir thrives in regions like Sonoma County and Santa Barbara, producing wines with a rich, fruity character and silky tannins.

Pinot Grigio, the wanderlust white, has also spread its vines far and wide. In Italy, especially in the regions of Veneto and Friuli, Pinot Grigio produces light-bodied wines with crisp acidity and flavors of green apple and pear. Over in Germany, where it's known as Grauburgunder, Pinot Grigio produces wines that are fuller-bodied with a rich, creamy texture. And let's not forget about the New World regions like Australia and the USA, where Pinot Grigio is known for its zesty and refreshing style.

But the journey of the Pinot family doesn't end here. Both Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio continue to adapt and evolve, producing wines with unique characteristics that reflect their terroir. From the sunny vineyards of California to the cool, rolling hills of New Zealand, the Pinot family continues to surprise and delight wine lovers around the world.

And just when you thought you've uncorked all there is to know about Pinot Grigio, here's another surprise. There are three types of Pinot Grigio: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and the classic Pinot Grigio. Each has its own flavor profile, spanning from minerally and dry, to fruity and sweet. So, whether you're a wine newbie or a seasoned sommelier, there's a Pinot Grigio for every palate.

So, the next time you're savoring your favorite Pinot, remember the fascinating historical journey it undertook from vine to glass. And don't forget to raise a toast to the magic of somatic mutations and the captivating world of wine. Cheers!

View Blog