Wines made from Pinot gris grapes of Valais
Discover the best wines made with Pinot gris as a single variety or as a blend of Valais.
More informations about the variety Pinot gris
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.
More informations about the region of Valais
The Valais is the largest wine region and appellation in Switzerland, responsible for around one third of the country's total wine production. The main Vineyard area covers the southeast-facing slopes of the dramatic Rhône river valley as the glacial waters run southwest between Leuk (Loeche in French) and Fully. The river changes direction at Martigny and then runs northwest to exit the valley and empty into Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Vineyard area here comes to around 4,800 hectares (11,800 acres) and is generally located on (often steep) slopes and terraces between the flat, fertile, Heavy soils at the bottom of the valley - often given over to fruit production, industry and urban development - and the bare rock of the mountainside that towers above.
What are the typical flavors of the Pinot gris grape variety?
- EarthPresent in 5% of Pinot gris
- Tree fruitPresent in 4% of Pinot gris
- Citrus fruitPresent in 1% of Pinot gris
- Tropical fruitPresent in 1% of Pinot gris
- OakPresent in 1% of Pinot gris
- HoneyPresent in 1% of Pinot gris
News about the grape variety Pinot gris
Letter from… Martin Crozier-Cook, a busy merchant
Martin Crozier-Cook is wine manager at Jeroboams food and wine store in Holland Park, west London. Jeroboams was voted Outstanding Retailer of the Year in the 2022 Decanter Retailer Awards Christmas time is when things get crazy – we all know this from our own experience of shopping in December. It brings out all sorts of behaviour in people. I help manage the Jeroboams store in leafy Holland Park, and I can tell you that a smile and a good sense of humour are absolutely necessary in making it t ...
Decanter magazine latest issue: April 2022
Inside the April 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES: South American Bordeaux blends: my top 20 Winemaking tradition informs many of South America’s top-flight reds, says Alejandro Iglesias Bordeaux 2019 in bottle Reappraising this excellent vintage, with Georgie Hindle’s selection of 27 top wines Vintage preview: southern Rhône 2020 Matt Walls’ regional round-up and pick of 40 standout wines from another hot but successful vintage South African Sauvignon Blanc: 10 top winemakers Malu Lam ...
Andrew Jefford: ‘Telling stories about terroir will lead us astray’
A domaine’s long history hoists its inanimate wines into life; biography brings meaning to the simple sensual pleasure of tasting a grower’s efforts. It’s important, though, to know what we are doing when we tell stories. And to know what to tell them about. Winemakers take the messy chaos of natural processes and add discipline, giving shape and direction to produce a stable and enticing wine. This was never nature’s intent. The storyteller takes a messy chaos of random events, either imagined ...