Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blanc is a crisp, dry white wine grape — a white-berried mutation of the Pinot family, known as Pinot Bianco in Italy and Weissburgunder in Germany and Austria. Most associated with Alsace in north-east France, it yields fresh, medium-bodied, unshowy wines built around apple, pear, citrus and a subtle floral lift, carried by lively acidity. It is often described as a quieter, leaner cousin of Chardonnay, with which it was long confused, and it is prized as a versatile, food-friendly white rather than a blockbuster. Usually made dry and for early drinking, it can also be barrel-fermented for richer styles or made into sparkling wine.