Pinot Gris

White variety - Pinot gris

• General: The Grauburgunder, or synonymously "Ruländer", originated from a mutation of the Pinot Noir. In 1711, the merchant Johann Seger Ruland from Speyer discovered the variety in an overgrown vineyard and cultivated it. Internationally, it is known as Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio or Tokaj. Worldwide, about 15,000 ha of Pinot Gris are cultivated, of which 4,450 ha are in Germany. The largest proportion of this is in Baden (1,640 ha), Rheinhessen (1,150 ha), and in the Palatinate (1,050 ha).
• Cluster: The variety name is derived from the grey to purple colouring of the berry skin. Medium-sized, cylindrical and densely berried grapes with round to elongated berry shape are characteristic. In the compact grape structure of some classic clones, there is a higher risk of botrytis and secondary rot such as vinegar and penicillium. This prompted grape growers and breeders to work towards loose and mixed-grape clones. The yield level with medium vigour ranges from moderate-yielding premium and medium segments to higher yields for the basic qualities. In many vintages, harvest maturity is reached about a week before Pinot Blanc.
• Wine: If we take the Pinot Grigio type as a reference, light, tangy, slender and fruity wines can be achieved with a sugar maturity of up to 90°Oe. At higher ripeness, the wines move towards powerful, full-bodied Burgundy types with mild acidity and aromas of pineapple, walnuts, dried fruit and sultanas. In suitable vintages, dessert wines such as noble sweet Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese are vinified.
• Cultivation: The variety prefers well-aerated sites on deep and also calcareous soils. The tendency to trickle is low in classic clones. Newer selections tend to trickle in flowering depending on the weather and thus to a loose-berried structure.