| Pinot Grigio is the common Italian name for the French variety Pinot Gris and is probably the name by which the variety is best known to most wine drinkers. In France, Pinot Gris is planted in Burgundy and the Loire, but it is in Alsace, where it is known as Tokay, that the wine is most revered, providing super-rich, usually dry wines that can be partnered with food.
Pinot Grigio is made in disparate styles that change not merely from region to region but from producer to producer. The differences are immediately apparent in the color, which may go from light straw to yellow gold to a transparent pale copper tint. Such variations usually reflect the differing intentions of the winemakers. The grape is one of only a few white wine varieties that has anthocyanin pigments (red) in the skin. Gewurztraminer is another.
At Forest Glen, winemaker Ed Moody made his Pinot Grigio in a style that emphasizes freshness and delicate fruit characteristics. The wine had no skin contact during fermentation nor did it undergo malolactic fermentation as is traditional with some Italian Pinot Grigios. The short barrel time (two months) added complexity and a softer aftertaste without overwhelming the fruit quality.
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