Ultimate Pinot Grigio Food Pairing Guide [20 Incredible Pairings]

Pinot Grigio is a wine known equally for its crisp green apple acidity as it is for its mouthcoating sweet honey flavor.

Low alcohol and zesty acid make this wine as perfect for pairing with seafood as it is with a good book on the patio. 

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about this wildly popular grape, its tasting profile, regional differences, and of course, all the pairings you can think of!

What Does Pinot Grigio Taste Like?

To build the perfect pairing, let’s dive a little deeper into what you can expect from a chilled bottle of this refreshing white wine.

Pinot Grigio is a typically dry (though sometimes off-dry) white wine with medium to high acidity, usually low alcohol, and light to medium in body.

Unlike most white wines, Pinot Grigio actually comes from a red grape, and in rare cases, can be used to make red and rosé wines. 

Pinot Grigio’s popularity stems from its versatility and ability to grow in cool and warm climates, each producing a wine with a unique flavor profile.

In cool and moderate climates, it tastes pure with crisp green apple, lemon, and pear flavors. In warmer climates, it is lush with stone fruit, citrus, floral, and honey flavors. 

Pinot Grigio is almost always aged in stainless steel, allowing for a pure expression of the wine with no flavor imparted from oak. 

Italian Pinot Grigio

Italy is the world’s leading producer of Pinot Grigio, where it is mainly grown in the regions of Veneto, Lombardy, and Friuli.

Here you can expect clean, if not simple, Pinot Grigio with flavors of pear, apple, and lemon.

French Pinot Gris

Despite Pinot Grigio’s wild popularity in Italy, its birthplace is in France, where it is known as Pinot Gris.

Primarily grown in Alsace alongside Riesling, this is a warmer climate for Pinot Grigio, making for a wine with riper flavors. 

Expect vibrant floral and stonefruit notes with a delicate minerality and notes of honey following bottle aging

American Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is America’s second leading white grape behind - you guessed it - Chardonnay.

In the warmer climate of California, it produces wines with floral and stonefruit flavors. In the cooler climate of Oregon, it is crisper in taste, with flavors of honeydew and citrus. 

How To Pair Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a delicate wine with all the makings of an excellent food pairing wine.

With high acidity and low alcohol, this is a safe bet wine that you should always keep in your fridge for a pairing emergency. 

Factors to Consider When Pairing Foods With Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio’s high acidity and low alcohol make it ideal for pairing with delicate, fatty, and or spicy foods. 

With that said, you’ll want to steer clear of red meat and richly flavored dishes such as roasts or stews, as these will overpower the wine.

Instead, stick to meaty fish such as halibut or black bass, along with shellfish and mollusks such as scallops, clams, and oysters.

Pinot Grigio, unlike Sauvignon Blanc, lacks in green flavors. It’s best to avoid dishes rich in herbs, as it will make the wine taste bitter by comparison. 

The Best Pinot Grigio Food Pairings

Now that we’ve covered some do’s and don’ts, it’s time for some good news. Pinot Grigio is a delicious wine with enough regional differences to make it adaptable to many dishes. 

Here are some of the most perfect food pairings for Pinot Grigio wine.

Pinot Grigio Meat Dish Pairings

Pinot Grigio Vegetarian Dish Pairings

Pinot Grigio Appetizer Pairings

Pinot Grigio and Cheese Pairings

Pinot Grigio and Snack Pairings