Pinot Gris

Pinot gris, pinot grigio or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the pinot noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. The word pinot could have been given to it because the grapes grow in small pine cone-shaped clusters. The wines produced from this grape also vary in color from a deep golden yellow to copper and even a light shade of pink, and it is one of the more popular grapes for skin-contact wine.

Picnic building blocks from Trader Joe’s include wines – in a can!

A can of Underwood sparkling rose, a can of Trader Joe's Sea Salted Saddle Potato Crisps and a can of Underwood Pinot Gris

Fast facts: NV Underwood Pinot Gris, Oregon ($4.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) NV Underwood Rosé Bubbles, Oregon ($5.49 @Trader Joe’s, California NV Sea Salted Saddle Potato Crisps ($1.49 @Trader Joe’s,  California)   I was first introduced to the idea that “form follows function” as a college student encountering the the work of the modern architects and Bauhaus. Simply … Read morePicnic building blocks from Trader Joe’s include wines – in a can!

Costco Has Two Perfect Pinots for Your Holiday Table

Bottle and glass of King Estate 2018 Pinot Gris (left) and Martin Ray 2018 Pinot Noir

Fast facts: 2018 King Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon $9.99* (@Costco, California, Item# 232249) 2018 Martin Ray Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California $14.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 803486) *net price after $5 in store discount   Peter Piper picked a pair of Pinots… Were you thinking when you read the headline that we were going … Read moreCostco Has Two Perfect Pinots for Your Holiday Table

A Perfect Wine Pair from the Pacific Northwest – Both Under $10 at Costco!

Bottle and glass of King Estate Pinot Gris 2018 and Columbia Crest 2016b Red Blend, both from Costco

Fast facts: 2018 King Estate Pinot Gris,  Willamette Valley, Oregon $9.99*(@Costco, California, Item# 232249) 2016 Columbia Crest H3 Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington  $6.99*(@Costco, California, Item# 661918) *net prices after $5 (King Estate) and $2 (Columbia Crest) discounts at register. Happy Thirsty Thursday! For all the many negatives about 2020 and the Covid Era, … Read moreA Perfect Wine Pair from the Pacific Northwest – Both Under $10 at Costco!

Good wine, for $3.99? Trader Joe’s says “yes!”

Chateau Pitray case-stacked at Costco.

Fast Facts: 2017 Adorada Pinot Gris, California  ($3.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) 2015 Chateau Pitray, Castillon, Bordeaux, France ($9.99 @Costco in California – Item #1044889)   This Week’s Selection from Trader Joe’s: I often cite the clues I look for when trying to find extraordinary wine values. One of these, of course, is the appellation. … Read moreGood wine, for $3.99? Trader Joe’s says “yes!”

Costco Has the Right White for your Thanksgiving Feast

Bottle and glass of Ponzi Pinot Gris

Fast facts: 2017  Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon  ($11.99 @Costco; California – Item #: 216898) Don’t look now but the Thanksgiving holiday is coming up fast here in the States. Just in time, we have you covered. This Oregon Pinot Gris would be a perfect pairing for traditional holiday fare. Fun Facts!  Pinot … Read moreCostco Has the Right White for your Thanksgiving Feast

Beat the heat with three PG’s from Costco – each wine under $10!

The same grape variety (Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio) from three different producers in different parts of the world yield three very different style wines.  They do have one thing in common – each is under $10! Fast facts: 2017 Kendall-Jackson Pinot Gris, California  ($8.99 @Costco; California – Product #: 508182) 2016 A to Z Wineworks Pinot … Read moreBeat the heat with three PG’s from Costco – each wine under $10!

ABC, it’s easy as Pinot Gris!

2017 Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley

Fast facts: 2017 Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley (Oregon) $9.99 (@Costco; California) Why yes, I am in fact riffing on the Jackson 5 tune there in the headline! In this case, I am also riffing on the acronym for “Anything But Chardonnay” as this grape variety, and this wine in particular, is a nice … Read moreABC, it’s easy as Pinot Gris!