Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blanc is a dry, light to medium-bodied white grown across France, Germany, Austria and northern Italy. Expect crisp apple, pear and citrus with white flowers, almond and a gentle creamy edge. Fresh but rounded, it’s brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, creamy pasta, salads, grilled vegetables and soft cheese.

Taste:

Fresh, smooth and quietly very good at its job.

Pinot Blanc is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity and flavours of green apple, pear and lemon. You may also find white peach, delicate floral notes and a subtle almond or mineral character.

Lighter styles are crisp and clean, while richer versions can develop a rounder, creamier texture. Oak ageing may bring subtle vanilla, toast and nutty flavours into the mix.

It's generally less aromatic than Riesling and less obviously fruity than Pinot Grigio, which gives Pinot Blanc an understated, elegant character.

Not every wine needs to arrive with jazz hands.

Food Pairings:

Pinot Blanc’s balance of freshness and texture makes it brilliantly versatile with food.

For seafood, try prawns, crab, mussels, grilled fish, sea bass, cod or scallops. Seafood pasta and dishes with lemon, butter or fresh herbs work particularly well.

It’s also a great match for roast chicken, grilled chicken, roast turkey and lighter pork dishes.

Creamier styles can handle chicken in a creamy sauce, mushroom pasta, creamy pasta, mushroom risotto and vegetable risotto.

For lighter meals, try chicken salad, goat’s cheese salad, grilled vegetables, asparagus or vegetable tarts.

On the cheese board, Brie, Camembert, goat’s cheese, Gruyère and other mild to medium-strength cheeses work beautifully.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Pinot Blanc, Weissburgunder is technically the same grape under its German name and is an obvious next place to explore.

Pinot Grigio offers a lighter, crisper expression from another member of the Pinot family, while Chardonnay brings more body and richness.

Silvaner is also worth trying if fresh apple, subtle flavours and food-friendly acidity are what you enjoy most.

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More About Pinot Blanc:

Pinot Blanc is a white mutation of Pinot Gris, which is itself a colour mutation of Pinot Noir. The Pinot family tree apparently didn't believe in keeping things simple.

The grape is particularly important in Alsace in France, Germany – where it's known as Weissburgunder – Austria and northern Italy, where you'll see Pinot Bianco on the label.

It's used for both still and sparkling wine and can produce everything from light, fresh everyday bottles to richer wines fermented or matured in oak.

Three countries, three common names: Pinot Blanc, Weissburgunder and Pinot Bianco.

At least this time they're all translations of roughly the same thing.