Pinot grigio: Fresh and crisp as spring

Pinot grigio, same grape as pinot gris, is the most popular white-wine import from Italy, and in many ways the perfect wine for spring.

Though it may sometimes be faulted for being innocuous and thin, its lightness can be an asset. Alcohol levels rarely reach 13 percent, and the percentage of new oak is low, if any is used at all.

The best of these wines are beautifully aromatic, with scents of white fruits and highlights of flower and spice. A personal favorite is made by Alois Lageder and sells for around $15. Lageder also makes a single-vineyard pinot grigio called Benefizium Porer, which is bigger, riper and more full-bodied than the regular bottling. It sells for $20. Roughly 20 percent of this wine is barrel-fermented and aged.

Pinot gris is a latecomer to Washington state, but pioneering Oregon winegrower David Lett introduced it to the Willamette Valley almost 40 years ago. Today, pinot gris is that state’s most-planted white grape, and at least one producer — King Estate — has made it the company’s signature wine.

Oregon pinot gris is significantly riper, rounder and fruitier than those from Italy. These domestic wines are … Continue Reading