Some of the most popular white wines you will ever come across are these two here. They actually account for almost a third of all wines sales globally. So how can you differentiate Chardonnay from Pinot Grigio?

How do they taste? Which one of them is sweeter than the other? What are some of the features they share in common? What of their differences? There are a lot more of such and more questions that have bothered wine lovers for quite some time now.

This article seeks to answer the above questions and many more as regards these two white wines. Have you been looking forward to raw facts as concerns these wines? You are right in time for the mother-of-all discussion. Grab your seat and read along.

So what is Pinot Grigio?

Just like pinot noir, white wine pinot grigio’s existence can be traced to Bergundy. The latter is however a mutation of the former. It is also known as Pinot gris which is derived from the grapes’ grey color. Even though the grapes are the same across different countries in the world, the wines made from them could taste a little different.

In the production of the wine, it is only the juice that is squeezed from the hue and the skins discarded. The thin skins add little or nothing to the juice’s color. This means that pinot grigio wines are light with little pink tinge.

Pinot grigio grapes mature so fast, hence the high acid levels in them. With alcohol by volume contents of between 11.5 and 13.5, this wine can stay for up to 5 years.

How does pinot grigio taste?

As already mentioned above, the taste of pinot grigio often varies from one country to another. An Italian pinot grigio is crisp, floral and light in taste. At times they are off-dry or a little sweet. Pinot grigio is subtle and can smell like apple, citrus, mint and ginger among others.

On the other hand, French Pinot gris is unctuous with honey notes that are light. Additionally, the American Pinot Grigio is much of fruit flavors with little acidity as compared to the European types.

So, is pinot grigio sweet? The answer is an absolute yes but not as much as Chardonnay.

How can Pinot Grigio be served?

Have you ever been confused as to when to serve your guests the pinot grigio wine? Then this section serves you right. The best way to serve this wine is when its chilled, two years after its production. The drink can be enjoyed with a wide variety of meals.

However, the enjoyment hits differently if it accompanies lighter dishes. There are people who prefer using it during meal preparation for additional flavors.

Some of the dishes best enjoyed with the pinot grigio wine are seafood, salads, poultry, pasta, vegetables and Tex-Mex dishes among others.

And what is chardonnay?

Chardonnay is a name of a village in Macon, Burgundy. The name itself means a place full of thistles. Chardonnay grapes can virtually thrive in nearly all kinds of soils and climates. Chardonnay was actually an accidental cross of gouais blanc pinot noir grapes.

But now look, the accident led to the most popular white wine in the globe. The grapes have neutral flavors with their skins being green in color.

It is also worth noting that depending on the climate chardonnay has been grown, the wine might take different tastes.

How does chardonnay taste

Chardonnay are known for their buttery flavor. The flavor comes as a result of the fermentation process involved in the brewing and not how long the wine stays on the shelves. If the Malolactic fermentation isn’t allowed to proceed, the wine will have a crisper and tarter taste.

Chardonnay also has toasted oak and vanilla flavors. If the wine stays for long in oak, it takes the earthy and vanilla flavors even the more. If you aren’t a fan of the vanilla flavors, then the unoaked chardonnay wines are the most ideal for you.

Primarily, chardonnay grapes have vanilla, pineapple, butter and yellow butter flavors. The grapes are dry with minimal tannins. The average alcohol by volume content of this wine is between 13.5 and 15 percent.

How should chardonnay wine be served?

Ideally, chardonnay should be served chilled. So which are some of the foods that go well with this wine? Well, grilled poultry, creamy soups, pasta and shellfish among others are some of the foods you can enjoy your wine together with.

For oaked chardonnay, we’d recommend you enjoy them with starchy vegetables, crab cakes, mushrooms and pork tenderloin. 

Is Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio similar in any way?

These two white wines are identical and differentiating them in a wine glass is a near futility. If you aren’t a wine expert, you cannot tell which is which among the two.

Another thing these two white wines share in common is their origins. They both originated in France, a place called Burgundy.

Differences between chardonnay and pinot grigio

Pinot grigio isn’t as sweet as chardonnay due to its high acidity.  Besides, pinot grigio is lighter with a little hint of green while chardonnay is heavier with a little hint of freshly cut grass.

Additionally, chardonnay is drier and full-bodied compared their pinot grigio counterparts. On the color of the grape skin, for chardonnay grape is green-skinned whereas pinot grigio grapes are either brownish-pink or grayish blue.

Conclusion

Chardonnay vs pinot grigio, which one is better? Well, this is depends on everyone’s taste. Can you tell you tell the difference between these two wines without tasting them? Well, this isn’t possible due to the similarities they share in their colors.

It is only through the grass note and melon tastes that you can differentiate the two. Every bit of information on these wines have been laid bare and the choice is squarely yours to make. Do you have any question still? What is it that you feel has been left out? You can always share your thoughts with us.

Red wines are irresistible. We all love them after dinners and lunches. However, with the large number of red wines in the market, it can be quite hard to choose which one to settle for. Their descriptions are often not even the ideal way to differentiate them.

So, which is the best red wine to have? Is it the merlot or the pinot noir? Well, in this piece, we seek to do away with the doubts you’ve had as concerning the pinot noir vs merlot. At the end of this article, you will be able to make an informed opinion on which wine of the two blends well with your occasions. Isn’t this what you’ve been looking forward to? Well, we’ve heard your cries and now we’ve got you covered. Read along.

Pinot Noir: What is pinot noir?

Pinot noir can be traced back to the Gouais blanc grapes. Actually, it is the only known red grape of Burgundy. According to worldwide statics, pinot noir is the 10^th widely grown grape. They are amongst the first grapes to be used in making wine as far back as the 1^st century.

Initially it was only used by the Catholic in administering sacraments but later on the world’s population even non-Catholics began using it as it was the sweetest wine of the time. Pinot noir grows in clusters that are cone-shaped with the grapes skins being dark in color; hence, the name ‘black pine’ in some quarters.

Pinot noir grapes have very thin skins which makes them susceptible to diseases, fungi or rot. They do so well in dry and cool climates with stony soils which are well drained.

How does pinot noir taste?

Pinot noir has a strong flavor with medium to high acidic levels. However, it has plums, cherries and raspberries fruity taste. You will also realize that there is some taste of moist earth or tea leaves with the pinot noir.

The alcohol content of pinot noir is usually higher compared to most of the other wines. However, it is worth noting that the taste of this sweet wine can often be affected by season, vineyard and climate among others. Have you at times tasted a pinot noir wine that tasted a little different? Well, now you got the answers. So, is pinot noir sweet? Of course pinot noir has that dry sweet taste you have been longing for.

How can you serve pinot noir wine?

Pinot noir’s red berry characteristic makes it ideal for meaty foods which include salmon, chicken, pork and tuna among others. At the same time pinot noir wine blends so well with Asian dishes like Sashimi and Sushi.

What is merlot?

Merlot derives a lot from the French culture. The name itself loosely to Little Blackbird in French. Merlot is I fact the second most grown red grape in the United States. Its softness is usually the main reason every first wine drink wishes to have it.

DNA tests done on the merlot have showed that it was actually a cross-breed of Magdelene Noire and Cabernet Franc. Merlot grapes are blue in color with less sugar and acidity.

How does merlot taste?

Merlot has some mild taste of blueberries, blackberries and some herbal flavors. This makes it less acidic and tannin. It is smoother, deep in color and softer compared to the pinot noir. The duration that this wine stays in a store doesn’t in any way affect its taste.

Serving merlot wine

The merlot wine can be served with a wide variety of foodstuffs as compared to the pinot noir. This wine can be enjoyed with foods accompanied with hearty sauces that are creamy or tomato-based.

Differences between merlot and pinot noir

Even though there are a good number of similarities between merlot and pinot noir, there are also some differences between these two commonly used wines. So what are these differences?

Whereas pinot noir is slightly acidic, merlot grapes have low acidity levels. Besides, pinot noir is perfect for serving with subtle flavors like spicy foods unlike merlot which blends so well with earthy sauces and meat.

Another notable difference is on the type of climate they are grown. Pinot noir thrive well in cooler climates unlike merlot that grows even in the driest of places even in France. Additionally, pinot noir is earthy while merlot is soft and fruity.

Pinot noir is a little costly due to their being difficult to cultivate. However, blended merlots can be more expensive. These are just but a few of the outstanding differences between merlot and pinot noir.

What is wine cooler for pinot noir vs merlot?

You have probably heard this term ‘wine cooler’ more often if you are a wine enthusiast. Depending on where you stand, a wine cooler can have various meanings; from a wine bucket, beverage and even an appliance.

In America, a wine cooler is simply a beverage that is refreshing and often derived from fruit juice and wine. This beverage is often chilled and served together with ice especially in the summer. The wine coolers are made from low quality wine or even other alcoholic drinks.

In Britain, a wine cooler is simply a vessel, usually bucket-like, which has been filled with ice to cool some bottles of wine just before serving. In most cases you will hear it being referred to us a wine bucket for easier differentiation from a refrigerator.

You can to find the best wine bottle chiller for pinot noir vs merlot at here

Conclusion

As you have already read above, merlot and pinot noir share a lot in common. However, they also differ in equal measure. This has for a very long time made wine lovers spoilt for choices between the two. Both are ideal in their own ways.

So which one is the most ideal for you? Well, this question can only be answered by none other than you. And of course it still comes down to taste. Which one is tastier to you? Do you want to go with occasions? The choice is definitely yours to make. We hope you enjoyed the information you acquired from this article.