Pinot Gris.....Why Call It That?

Question

I guess there is a wine called Pinot Gris (As the french call it). In translation it's called Grey Pinecone. Why would they name it Grey Pinecone??? Don't guess plz let me know the real answer.

Answer 1

Good question, and the 100% definitive answer is lost in the mists of time. We do not know who first called it that name, when or why.

Pinot Gris is one of the large genetically identical Pinot family. Pinot - pinecone - presumably got its name because the grape bunches resembled a pinecone. (but they look much the same as any other variety).

Pinot mutates at the drop of a hat. The black grape version -Pinot Noir - is the most famous and highly rated family member.

The Pinot Gris mutation produces grapes that are not black and not white so presumably that is how it got the name. But Gris is not the only name it got. It is known by more than 25 different names, including in France alone Tokay d'Alsace, Pinot Beurot, Malvoisie, Gros Cordelier etc.

Beurot is a name from Burgundy referring to the rough serge cloth habits worn by monks, The Cistercians planted Pinot Gris from Burgundy in Hungary in the late 1300's and the variety is still known there as Szurkebarat, or 'grey monk'.

The EU has banned the use of the Tokay name in Alsace, so they are starting to use Pinot Gris there, and around the world grape names are reverting to the the names most popular with the public.

You stand more chance nowadays selling a Pinot Grigio than a Rulander or Klevanjka although they are all the same.

The actual color of the Pinot Gris grapes are not consistent. Sometimes they look greyish, but the ones I have seen harvested have changed to colors ranging from pale to deep pink when fully ripe -- and indeed we are now seeing some blush Pinot Gris/Grigio on the shops.

If you haven't tried a Pinot Gris from New Zealand yet -- do so. They are stunningly good.

Answer 2

Pinot Gris, relatively unknown, is a Small Grey grape. But it really comes to life as Pinot Grigio the Italian name for a French grape called Pinot Gris from the word for "gray" Widely planted in the north of Italy, But please don't worry about the name, this wine when cooled is a great summer wine try it with some cheese, fruit , and with an appropriate companion on a beautiful day and you will be heaven.

Answer 3

grape bunches look similar to a pinecone, and gris because it's a gray-ish variety as opposed to pinot noir which is from black pinot grapes.

Answer 4

Pinot is a variety of grape. There is one particular varient which is greyish-white, hence the name Pinot Gris.

Answer 5

the distinction of bieng grayish to pick in for process.the veneron knows that.