Pinot Gris (Grauer Burgunder) White Wine
Buy in the Online-Shop of the Wine Estate

Pinot Gris – Powerful, Classical Elegance

Pinot Gris is an internationally widespread white grape variety that has been firmly established in Germany as Grauburgunder or Grauer Burgunder for many years.

Internationally, the variety is also known by its Italian name Pinot Grigio. In Germany, it was commonly referred to as “Ruländer” well into the last century and is still recorded under this name in the official German vineyard register.

Pinot Gris stands for full-bodied, structured white wines with restrained, elegant fruit. Typical notes include pear, apple or gooseberry, accompanied by mild acidity and a creamy, rounded texture.

When vinified as an off-dry wine, as we do, Pinot Gris shows its most harmonious and balanced side.

At the table, Pinot Gris is highly versatile. It pairs particularly well with poultry, fish, pasta, light meat dishes or mild cheeses. Its harmonious character makes it a reliable food companion.

Pinot Gris Sites at Weingut Fuchs

Our Pinot Gris vines are located in the Palatinate part of the estate. A gently sloping south-west-facing hillside in Einselthum and a south-facing slope above the village of Zell offer excellent conditions on mineral, limestone-rich soils.

These sites ensure even ripening and form the basis for structured, well-balanced Pinot Gris wines with clear fruit and a calm, composed character.

Origin of Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris belongs to the Burgundy family of grape varieties and is considered a bud mutation of Pinot Noir. It reached our region as early as the 14th century.

The French name Pinot gris derives from the word pin, meaning pine, and refers to the grape clusters, which resemble pine cones in shape.

The name Ruländer goes back to the merchant Johann Ruland, who discovered and propagated the then-unknown Burgundy vines in a garden in Speyer in 1711.

Characteristics of the Variety

Pinot Gris is a sensitive grape variety that achieves high must weights only on sufficiently warm, deep loess and limestone soils. Protection from late spring frost is essential.

The grapes ripen late and grow very compact and tightly packed. The berries are particularly thin-skinned and medium-sized, with a distinctive pink-grey to bluish-red colouring.

When fully ripe, they produce extract-rich white wines with moderate acidity, fine fruit and harmonious structure.