Grape names can be complicated, mainly because they change so much. This week we are trying wines that go by different names so let’s dive in and learn more.

The first grape is Pinot Gris, while both of the wines this week are labeled as such many people know it as Pinot Grigio, another name for it is Grauburgunder. But why the difference? These are actually just language difference. The Pinot part stays the same for the first two, and “gris” and “grigio” both translate to grey from French and Italian respectively. Grauburgunder, which is German, literally translate to something like “Grey Burgundian”, giving a nod to the color and the origin of the grape. But is the grape actually grey? Well, yeah, kind of! It can often have a greyish purple tone to it, very different from Pinot Noir which is a deep purple, or Pinot Blanc which is a green grape. For those outside of Europe the name they choose for the grape, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, typically corresponds to the style that the wine will be made in. Pinot Gris, the French style, tends to be a bit more aromatic and have more body to it. These wines are better with food like roast chicken or fish. Pinot Grigio on the other hand is considered more neutral and easy drinking. We tend to think of Pinot Grigio as being great poolside wine or a great pre dinner drink.

The other grape that we’ll try that is a bit of a name changer is Syrah, AKA Shiraz. The exact origins of Syrah are a bit murky, but it finds its main homes in the Rhone Valley of France where it is decidedly Syrah. Head to the opposite side of the world, where the Australians call the grape Shiraz. Why the change? Well that is a good question. Wine historians have tried to figure it out for decades to no avail. Now, like Pinot Gris/Grigio people will call the grape a different name based on the style they are going for. If you see a wine labeled Shiraz think a big and bold red with lots of stewed fruit tones, almost somewhere in between a Zinfandel and a Cab. If you see Syrah on the label expect a wine that still has plenty of power but leans more into earth and pepper tones with a little bit more tannin and acid. Oh and if you see Petite Sirah on a label, that is a completely different grape which grape experts now believe is an offspring of Syrah!

Next time you are looking at wine labels and are thinking “wow I’ve never heard of this before” don’t be afraid to ask someone more about it, there is a decent chance that is just a grape going by a different name. Syrah/Shiraz and Pinot Gris/Grigio are just the tip of the iceberg, some grapes like Sangiovese have as many as 50 names! No matter what you want to call your wine, we’ll have it for you the next time you stop into Crown!