Wines made from Pinot gris grapes of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Discover the best wines made with Pinot gris as a single variety or as a blend of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Pinot Gris is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot gris was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. Pinot Gris is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot Gris wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot gris is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a regional VQA appellation in Ontario, Canada, on the southern shores of Lake Ontario and surrounded by water on three sides. It produces the largest Volume of ice wine in the world, more so than the style's homeland of Germany. Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Vidal are planted widely for this style. There are around 20 wineries in operation here and international wine-producing powerhouses such as Inniskillin, Jackson Triggs and Peller Estate are collectively responsible for the majority of Canadian ice wines sold outside of Canada.