The popular white wine variety Pinot Grigio has long been known for its light and reviving qualities. One of the most hotly challenged subjects among wine fans is the appropriate drinking temperature for Pinot Grigio.

In this post, we answer the topic, “Is Pinot Grigio served chilled?” This article will clarify the ideal serving temperature for Pinot Grigio and assist you in getting the most out of your Pinot Grigio experience, whether you are an expert on the varietal or simply interested in its delicate characteristics of wine.

1. Is Pinot Grigio Served Chilled?

The answer is yes. This helps clarify characteristics such as scent and flavor in the drink, eventually allowing your guest to appreciate the glass of wine to its best potential.

You can notice a huge change in the smells, tastes, bitterness, and texture of the wine by drinking it at the right serving temperature. Pinot Grigio is ideally drunk cold, as is the case with most white wines. 

Lighter white wines, as opposed to full-bodied whites, perform better at slightly colder temperatures. Because it is a light white wine, pinot gris is ideally served around 45–49°F (7-9°C). 

The wine’s crisp acidity will be elevated at these temperatures, and the vibrant flavors of Meyers lemon, green apples, pears, and honeysuckle will stand out. However, the taste will be disguised if drunk ice cold, and you will not be able to enjoy the entire range of characteristics in the wine.

Pinot Grigio	Temperature Range
Serving Temperature	43- 46°F (6- 8°C)
Storage Temperature	51- 59°F (11-15°C)

2. What is Pinot Grigio?

• Origin

Both the history and the flavor profile of Pinot Grigio are extensive. While Pinot Grigio is supposed to have originated in Italy, it comes from a mutant of the famed French grape Pinot Gris, which was produced from a red-wine vine Pinot Noir. 

The grape’s bluish-grey color was taken to Italian when it arrived in the nation, and because of how well-liked the flavor is, the term has been used ever since. 

It traveled from Burgundy, France to Switzerland in the 1300s before arriving in Italy, where the contemporary story begins. Due to this grape variety’s widespread appeal, other nations have created their versions of the wine. 

• Tasting notes

The Pinot Grigio that we are all used to typically has white peach undertones, a trace of citrus, and a faint taste of pear. You might notice extra flavors of honeysuckle, green apple, or perhaps grapefruit in this light, easy-to-sip white wine, which is finished off with a hint of fragrance and mild spice.

• ABV

Light-bodied white wines usually have an alcohol content of 12.5% or less. Since some Pinot Grigio only have 8% alcohol, these occasionally include Pinot Grigio as well. Despite having a somewhat moderate acidity, Pinot Grigio-based wines can nonetheless be copious and abundant in extracts. Because of this, Pinot Grigio infrequently reaches 13% alcohol by volume. 

• Food pairings

Pinot Grigio is an excellent food-friendly wine. It is frequently paired with delicate shellfish and white meat dishes like mussels or herbed chicken. Additionally, it goes well with salads made of greens, and if you want cheese, go no further than mozzarella.

You may match pricier dishes with a fuller-bodied Pinot Gris and richer in flavor. Cheese lovers should choose something smoked, while meatier fish like swordfish, cream sauces, creamy veal, and caramelized onions are also beautiful choices.

3. Popular Styles of Pinot Grigio and Their Ideal Serving Temperature

• Italian Pinot Grigio: Italian Pinot Grigio is ideally served between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, or 42 and 47 degrees Fahrenheit. This wine is noted for its dry minerality and has flavors resembling green pear and apple blossom.
• New World Pinot Grigio: Due to the warmer climes in places like Australia, New Zealand, or the USA where Pinot Grigio is cultivated, it may have an additional tropical flavor. Serving at 6-8°C, or 42-47 °F is the most suitable for this type of Pinot Grigio.
• French Pinot Grigio: Pinot Gris cultivated in France’s Alsace area tends to be fruitier, sweeter, and oilier in texture. It is ideal to serve this type of cold, at 5-7°C or 41-45°F, to best highlight its qualities.

Styles	Temperature when serving
Italian Pinot Grigio	6- 8°C (42- 47°F)
New World Pinot Grigio	6- 8°C (42- 47°F)
French Pinot Grigio	5- 7°C (41- 45°F)

4. How to serve Pinot Grigio at the perfect temperature

Pinot Grigio of all varieties, including frizzante Pinot Grigio, should be served at 48 degrees Fahrenheit which is the perfect temperature. But how to serve the Pinot Grigio at this temperature?

The characteristics of the wine will be hidden if it is served either too cold or too warm. So to serve it correctly at 48 degrees Fahrenheit, here are some ways:

• Using the refrigerator: Place the wine in the fridge for two to three hours before serving to cool it to this temperature, and then put it out at room temperature for ten minutes before serving. Avoid storing wine bottles in these refrigerators for extended periods due to their design.
• Using the wine cooler: The bottle can alternatively be frozen for around 20 minutes or chilled for 10 minutes right before serving in a quick wine cooler. 

Editor’s Note: If you want to be accurate about the temperature of your wines before serving them, you can purchase wine temperature thermometers.

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5. How to chill Pinot Grigio fast?

Try the following options to fast-chill Pinot Grigio:

• Using an ice bucket with salt: Fill a big bowl or bucket with ice and salt to create a salty ice bucket. Place the Pinot Grigio bottle on the ice bucket. In just a few minutes, this technique can cool the wine.
• Using the freezer: Place the wine bottle of Pinot Grigio in the freezer after wrapping it in a wet cloth or paper towel. To prevent freezing, check the bottle every 15 minutes. The wine is normally chilled using this approach in 30-45 minutes.

Editor’s Note: Regularly check the wine bottle’s temperature. When the wine reaches the proper temperature, stop chilling it and serve it right away.

6. What happens when you over-chill Pinot Grigio?

There are several issues that can occur when a bottle of Pinot Grigio is over-chilled:

• Diminished Scents: Wine’s aromas can be suppressed by over-chilling. The cold temperature might make it more difficult to distinguish the delicate scents and details that are unique to Pinot Grigio.
• Blocked Fruitiness: Pinot Grigio frequently reveals fruity aromas like apple, pear, and lemon. These fruity notes may become muted if the wine is too cold, which will reduce its vibrancy and attractiveness.
• Dull Taste: Over-chilling can dull the palate, making it challenging to properly perceive the wine’s nuances. When served too cold, Pinot Grigio might taste bland or understated.
• Lack of Complexity: The sharp acidity and delicate taste of Pinot Grigio are its main highlights. Over-chilling can hide these qualities, causing the wine to lose complexity and balance.

7. The proper way to store Pinot Grigio

The serving temperature is merely one component of the whole. The way you keep Pinot Grigio can have an impact on the tastes and fragrances of the wine because wines are fragile and may deteriorate and acquire defects under unfavorable storage circumstances. Pinot Grigio may be held for a few months even if it isn’t intended to be aged for decades like more complex red wines. 

Remember to put the cork-sealed bottle on its side if it has one. The cork cannot dry up and let air into the container, which is what might cause the wine to spoil if the liquid remains in touch with the cork.

No matter whether you keep your Pinot Gris on its side or not, if the bottle has a screw top, then it doesn’t matter.

All maturing wines dislike direct sunshine and extreme temperature changes. The optimal setting is a dim, climate-controlled space between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Editor’s note: You should believe your sight and nose if you’re unsure about whether or not your bottle of Pinot Gris has expired. Look for color variations when you place the liquid into a wine glass. The color of unoaked Pinot Gris is often light. It could have gone off if it had become a deeper yellow color. Also, believe your senses and avoid sipping if you detect a musty, nasty smell.

8. FAQs

Q: Do you need to chill Pinot Grigio?

Yes. However, the refrigerator is excessively cold for long-term wine storage, so avoid storing the wine there. Wine should always be stored on its side, away from strong light and vibration. Before serving, Pinot Grigio should be well chilled so that you may fully appreciate its tastes, aromas, and mouthfeel.

Q: What is the proper way to serve Pinot Grigio?

The recommended serving temperature for Pinot Grigio is between 48 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer the wine may get on the spectrum, the more full-bodied it is. Due to its extreme acidity, it is best drank from a tiny glass with a tight rim.

Q: Is Pinot Grigio dry or sweet?

Pinot Grigio is typically a crisp white wine with strong acidity and little residual sugar, thus it is not sugary. Even if a small amount of remaining sugar were to be included in a winemaker’s Pinot Grigio, it would still normally be categorized as a dry wine.

Q: Do you drink Pinot Grigio at dinner?

Pinot grigio pairs particularly well with seafood dishes due to its high acidity. Keep it light by staying away from foods with heavy sauces or tuna, which is a substantial seafood. A nice option would be crab or shrimp salad, as well as fried halibut, poached salmon, sushi, or calamari.

Q: After opening, does Pinot Grigio wine need to be chilled?

An open bottle of wine that has been exposed to air starts to lose its fresh fruit flavors due to oxidation. It is therefore advisable to consume a full bottle in a single evening or occasion. By delaying spoiling and reducing the oxidation process, chilling can help keep wine fresh for longer.

Q: How heavy or light is Pinot Grigio?

White wines with a light body often contain 12.5% abv or less. These include Sauvignon Blanc, sweet Riesling, and Pinot Grigio. They go nicely with sushi, white flesh fish that has been grilled, seafood, and Mexican cuisine. Sangrias made with light white wines are also hydrating.

Q: What wine has to be chilled?

In general, lighter, sweeter, or bubblier wines taste better at somewhat warmer temperatures than fuller-bodied, fruitier, and more tannin wines. Your preferences are more important than any advice from a professional on the “right” serving temperatures.

Q: Does Pinot Grigio ever become old?

Pinot Grigio, the great majority of Rosé wines, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon Blanc are examples of white wines that age poorly. These wines, like the majority of wines on the marketplace, are often made to be drunk within a few years of the grapes being harvested, and their flavors and aromas do not get better with age.

Q: How should Pinot Grigio be stored?

Place the wine in a cool, dark location without significant temperature changes to preserve it correctly. It’s simple to put a bottle of wine in the fridge so that it’s available, but the fridge is too cold for prolonged storage.

Q: What causes Pinot Grigio to oxidize?

Your wine oxidizes, which is why it becomes brown. Every wine will oxidize, but really good wines may keep for up to fifty to one hundred years without doing so if they are prepared, preserved, and balanced properly.

Q: Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, which is sweeter?

Even though both Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are dry wines, Chardonnay is sweeter due to Pinot Grigio’s higher acidity.

9. Conclusion

Overall, the answer to the issue of whether or not Pinot Grigio is best-drunk cold or not is probably a yes. The crispness and acidity of Pinot Grigio may be enhanced by chilling, making it a delightful option for summertime or lighter meals. You do have an option, though. Find the ideal serving temperature for your taste by experimenting with various temps and take pleasure in the lovely subtleties that Pinot Grigio provides. I hope this post Is Pinot Grigio served chilled? has given you some tips for serving Pinot Grigio!