Is Pinot Grigio Sweet? (Flavors, Various Styles)

by Anthony Zhang

Believed to be a descendent of Pinot Noir, the white grape Pinot Grigio produces wines with a tropical fruit flavor and good acidity.

But, is Pinot Grigio sweet?

In short, Pinot Grigio wines are typically low in sugar and tend to be dry. But, there are exceptions!

In this article, we’ll cover Pinot Grigio’s sweetness levels in detail, the typical flavors in Pinot Grigio wines, wine styles, and the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris.

To help you select the right wine for your taste preferences, we’ll also cover the sweetness levels for different red and white wines.

Is Pinot Grigio Sweet Or Dry?

The typical Pinot Grigio white wine is medium-dry.

However, the late-harvest Pinot Grigio grape tends to produce sweet wines. Also, the sweetness level in a Pinot Grigio wine depends on where the drink is produced.

Italian Pinot Grigio wines are lighter, drier, and zestier in taste and have a touch of acidity. Meanwhile, French Pinot Grigio wines are slightly sweeter.

Australia and the USA produce sweet, late-harvest Pinot Grigio wines with richer fruit flavors and moderate acidity.

Common Flavors In Pinot Grigio Wine

Pinot Grigio wines boast firm acidity and tropical fruit flavors with pear and apple notes.

The late-harvest sweeter wine options have a luscious taste of candied lemon and subtle acidity. Other typical Pinot Grigio wine flavors include citrus, stone fruit, apple, and honeysuckle.

Pinot Grigio Wine Styles From Dry to Sweet

Pinot Grigio wine comes in four styles:‍

Mineral and Dry White Wine: This is the driest white wine style comprising a more saline quality and a lack of fruit flavor.
Fruity and Dry White Wine: These wines have an oily texture and offer lemon, white peach, and yellow apple notes.
Fruity and Sweet White Wine: These wines have crisp apple flavors with sweet lemon candy and honey notes.
Rosé Wine (Romato): These are pale, copper-hued wines with a dried cranberry flavor and red flower aromas.

Is Pinot Grigio Similar To Pinot Gris?

Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris belong to the Pinot family and are both a mutation of Pinot Noir.

Here are the main differences between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris wines:

Pinot Gris is a fruity, French wine style, while Pinot Grigio refers to a drier Italian wine. So, the Pinot Gris grape is cultivated widely in France, whereas Pinot Grigio is grown widely in Italy.
Pinot Gris wines are full-bodied, fruity, and have a tropical fruit flavor. Meanwhile, Pinot Grigio wines are light-bodied and contain mineral and citrus flavors.
Pinot Grigio wines cost $3-$150, while Pinot Gris wines cost $4-$1,000.

Now, let’s compare the sweetness levels of Pinot Grigio with other red and white wines.

What Are The Sweetness Levels For Red And White Wines?

Grapes contain sugar, but most of it is converted into alcohol during fermentation. Depending on the amount of residual sugar left during winemaking, a wine can be bone dry or very sweet.

A dry wine has low residual sugar (below 2%), whereas a sweet wine or dessert wine will have a high sugar content (5-15+%).

In that context, here are the different sweetness levels for various red and white wine options:

A. Red Wine Sweetness Levels

Bone Dry: French Malbec, Chianti, and Bordeaux wine
Dry: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel
Semi-Sweet: Lambrusco, Valpolicella, and Brachetto
Sweet: Port wine, Banyuls, and Maury
Very Sweet: Tawny port and Vin Santo Rosso

B. White Wine Sweetness Levels

Bone Dry: Pinot Grigio, Grenache Blanc, and Chablis
Dry: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Dry Riesling
Off Dry: Kabinett Riesling, and White Zinfandel
Semi-Sweet: Moscato and Gewurztraminer
Sweet: Ice wine, Tokaji, and Sauternes wine
Very Sweet: White Port, Vin Santo, and Passito wines

Enjoy A Refreshing Glass of Pinot Grigio!

Pinot Grigio wines’ crisp and upbeat character makes them a delightful treat for any wine enthusiast.

The typical Pinot Grigio is an easy-drinking, dry wine that you can enjoy while relaxing at the beach. However, these wines aren’t ideal for long-term cellaring.