Pinot Blanc - Regions, Food Pairings, Best Wines (2024)

Want to know more about the Pinot Blanc grape and the wines it produces?

Pronounced “pee-no blonk,” Pinot Blanc is the white wine grape responsible for some of the most impressive sparkling, still, and sweet dessert wines. It is often overshadowed by other popular white wine varietals, including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

But what is the difference between Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay? How is it different compared to the rest of the Pinot family?

Which Pinot Blanc bottles should you buy in 2024? 

Let’s walk through all you need to know about Pinot Blanc - where this grape originated from, how it is known worldwide, food pairings, and characteristics.

We even have a list of Eight Of The Best Pinot Blancs you could try out for yourself! 

A Quick Intro To Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blanc is a genetic mutation of its more well-known counterparts - Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Pinot Blanc produces a medium-dry wine, and when blended with other grape varietals - it creates some fantastic still and sparkling wines.

The Pinot Blanc grape originated in Burgundy and is used in the Bourgogne Blanc blend. However, today it is mostly found in the Alsace region, where it’s called Klevner, and is often overshadowed by the more popular Riesling and Gewurztraminer. 

Interestingly, in Alsace, the Pinot Blanc appellation or designation doesn't necessarily mean it is a 100% Pinot Blanc wine. 

Instead, this appellation or designation denotes a white wine made from Pinot varieties like Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Auxerrois Blanc. (The Auxerrois grape is what gives Pinot Blanc wine a classic Alsatian flavor.)

You’ll also find Pinot Blanc vineyards in Germany, Croatia, Alto Adige, Friuli, Austria, California, and in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The Pinot Family Explained 

Even though Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Grigio are just color mutations of Pinot Noir, they differ in taste, look, and winemaking styles. 

Let’s take a quick look at these differences.

Difference Between Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris and Grigio are the same grape but grown in France and Italy, respectively. 

Pinot Blanc is the cousin of these two grapes, and its mutation caused a loss in the pigment in the skin to give it a different color. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio grapes have a grayish or purple hue, while Pinot Blanc has a grass-green color. 

When comparing wines from the same grape family, it always comes down to taste, tannins, and acidity. 

• Pinot Blanc: Either rich (when oaked) or lighter, sometimes with more fleshiness and lower acidity
• Pinot GrigioLighter and unoaked style typical in northern Italy, crisp with loads of acidity 

• Pinot GrisOften used in late harvest botrytis wines, has a sweet taste with a warm palate

Let’s take a trip around the world and see how Pinot Blanc is used in different regions.

Pinot Blanc Around The World

Pinot Blanc thrives in cooler temperatures in the growing seasons with minimal exposure to sunlight and wind. When it comes to soil, limestone and clay make the ideal composition for healthy vine growth. 

The grape is known by different names in different parts of the world - Pinot Bianco, Weissburgunder, and so on. And, like most grape varieties the wine style and vinification methods differ depending on the region:

• Pinot Bianco: Grown and produced in Italy, has crisp and light characteristics and often produces a dry white wine. Pinot Bianco is also used to create spumante (sparkling wine.)  
• Pinot Blanc: French winemakers use Pinot Blanc to make sparkling wine. Pinot Blanc that’s made in France is often oaked, and has a creamy texture and almond characteristics. 

In Canada, winemakers use Pinot Blanc to make ice wine, while in California, it is a favorite choice for making sparkling wine. 

• Weissburgunder or Weißer Burgunder: Grown in Germany and Austria. It has refreshing and light characteristics. Austrian winemakers use it to create Trockenbeerenausiese (a dessert wine.)

  

Read more: If you need something to satisfy your sweet tooth right away, choose from one of these incredibly delicious Moscato Wines!

There’s also a constant comparison between Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay wine. This mutation of Pinot Noir is also referred to as “Chardonnay’s understudy” in some wine circles.

But let’s see how these grape varieties differ from each other.

Differences Between Pinot Blanc And Chardonnay

In 1980 Pinot Blanc enjoyed the limelight in north-eastern Italy as it was often mistaken for the fashionable Chardonnay!

And it is understandable - they both have similar coloring and acidity, and both respond well to oak aging. 

But these slight differences set them apart:

Nature of the grape 

• Chardonnay is an early ripening grape and has a golden green color when fully matured.
• Pinot Blanc matures into a grass green color with good acidity. 

Regions where they’re grown

• Chardonnay is grown worldwide due to its adaptability to terroir and flexible nature.
• Pinot Blanc is mostly grown in the northern hemisphere. 

Oak influence and wine characteristics

• Chardonnay works as a blank canvas for winemakers, and is produced in a variety of styles. 

Chardonnay white wine can be oaked or unoaked. American Chardonnay is usually oaked. This oak aging, along with the malolactic fermentation process, gives it a buttery creaminess. On the other hand, European Chardonnay is typically steel-aged and has bright flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, apples, and stone fruit. 

• Pinot Blanc also allows the winemaker to play around with different styles. 

Like other white wine varietals, Pinot Blanc is not generally aged in oak, but it can be. This white grape variety produces a medium-to-full-bodied wine with good acidity and almond and apple flavors. 

When Pinot Blanc is oak-aged, it takes on a creamy mouthfeel and has notes of apple, citrus, pear with occasional mineral and smoke undertones. 

Also read: Discover all the Health Benefits Of Red Wine and How Many Calories Are in it.

How To Store and Serve Pinot Blanc‍

Serve Pinot Blanc at 45-49°F (7-12°C) in the right wine glass to let the wine open up. Here are the best glasses for different styles of the wine:

• Unoaked Pinot Blanc: Serve in a white wine glass with a narrow aperture to accentuate the aromas. 

• Oaked Pinot Blanc: Serve in a wine glass with a wide aperture to open the wine up. 

• Sparkling Wine: Serve chilled in a flute, coup, or tulip redux. 

Typically, Pinot Blancs are great to cellar for 1-3 years. (A few others last a bit longer - but we will get into the aging of this wine a bit later.)

Looking for the perfect food to pair with your favorite bottle of Pinot Blanc?

The Perfect Food Pairings for Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blancs pair perfectly with roast chicken, salad, and other light meats. Mild cheeses, seafood, pasta, and creamy or acidic sauces are also excellent choices. 

Ready to get your hands on a bottle of this delicious white wine? 

Must read: Building storage for your fine wine at home? Our article on How To Design The Perfect Wine Cellar will help you get started.

8 Captivating Pinot Blanc Wines You Can Buy In 2024

1. 2014 Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France

This delightful white wine from the Champagne region opens with a bouquet of apple, honeysuckle, lemon, spice, and floral characteristics. You will experience crisp acidity and notes of apricot, citrus, apple, and lemon on the palate. 

Price of 2014 Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France: $258

2. 2018 Philippe Pacalet Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc, Cote de Nuits, France 

This fresh and smooth French wine is perfectly balanced in every way. On the nose, you enjoy all the notes of acacia honey, fresh wildflowers, spice, citrus fruits, and a headier minerality. 

Price of 2018 Philippe Pacalet Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc, Cote de Nuits, France: $132

3. 2017 Domaine Henri Gouges La Perriere Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, France

This divine premier cru wine entices the senses with every drop. You’ll experience a bouquet of sweet herbs, dusty florals, white peach, hints of minerals, and moist earth on the nose. 

Your palate will love the notes of white strawberry, zesty spice, and floral tones among the soft textures with every sip. It also offers a lingering finish of citrus-infused minerals. 

Price of 2017 Domaine Henri Gouges La Perriere Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, France: $123

4. 2014 Kellerei Kaltern 'Kunst.Stuck' Weissburgunder, Sudtirol, Italy

This bright yellow Italian white is characterized by its elegance, structure, and harmony. 

It has well-integrated acidity, juicy fruit, and a variety of aromas. On the palate, its freshness, elegance, and minerality shine through the Mediterranean notes. 

Price of 2014 Kellerei Kaltern 'Kunst.Stuck' Weissburgunder, Sudtirol, Italy: $63

5. 2015 Weingut Tement Zieregg Weissburgunder Grosse STK Lage, Sudsteiermark, Austria

This delicate white is from the best vineyard in southern Styria. 

When it comes to aroma, It has incredible notes of grapefruit and quince. As for the taste, your palate will be spoiled for choice with notes of melon, pineapple, peach, white flowers, mango, and grapefruit.  

Price of 2015 Weingut Tement Zieregg Weissburgunder Grosse STK Lage, Sudsteiermark, Austria: $60

6. 2018 Marie-Therese Chappaz Grain Cinq, Fully, Switzerland

This is a complex wine where the five grape varieties (Ermitage, Païen, Petite Arvine, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner) blend perfectly. It has notes of apricots, lime, white flowers, frankincense, and citrus. 

Price of 2018 Marie-Therese Chappaz Grain Cinq, Fully, Switzerland: $60

7. 2017 Weingut Dreissigacker Bechtheimer Einzigacker Weissburgunder Trocken, Rheinhessen, Germany

This white wine from Rheinhessen is genuinely one of a kind. It is full of character, playful, complex, and rich in extract. This wine opens up wonderfully with lovely aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and ripe pear. 

Price of 2017 Weingut Dreissigacker Bechtheimer Einzigacker Weissburgunder Trocken, Rheinhessen, Germany: $56

8. 2017 Robert Sinskey Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Carneros, USA

This varietal wine is bright and crisp with an amazingly zesty mid-palate that leads you into a lengthy finish.

This Pinot Blanc has aromas and fruit flavors of white peach, apricot, mandarin, lemon, green apple. You’ll love the juicy first flavor of fresh white pineapple!

Price of 2017 Robert Sinskey Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Carneros, USA: $49

Read more: Find out How Many Glasses Are In a Bottle Of Wine.

Does Pinot Blanc Age Well?

Pinot Blanc is meant to be drunk young. The aging varies from 1-5 years depending on which wine region it comes from. 

A Pinot Blanc from France can age well for 4-5 years. Across the pond, in the USA, a Pinot Blanc has an aging potential of 1-3 years. 

Now, if you want to go from a wine enthusiast to a Vinovestor, there are plenty of age-worthy wines from around the world you could add to your cellar.   

Finding, buying, shipping, and storing these wines may seem like a complicated process. But it doesn’t have to be!

Having a team of master sommeliers and data scientists to help you find the right wine can make wine investing way easier. 

The smartest way to do it is through Vinovest, where you get to enjoy the guidance of master sommeliers and more!

Buy And Store Your Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is an online wine investment platform where you can buy, sell, and store your favorite wines. 

You can buy the best white wines or any other bottles from any winery or wine merchant, store them for years, have them delivered directly to your doorstep, or sell them later for a potential profit. 

How It Works

You’d be all set to invest in the exotic world of wine by following these four simple steps: 

1. Enter your name, email, and password to create an account.
2. Answer a quick questionnaire to help our wine experts determine your investing style.
3. Top up your account with a minimum of $1,000.
4. Sit back with a glass of Rosé and watch your account grow!

Benefits of investing in wine via Vinovest

You’ll have these incredible benefits at your disposal.

1. Best Prices and a Global Network

Don’t want to pay heavy mark-ups or unwanted taxes? Vinovest buys wines at wholesale prices from vineyards, merchants, and wineries all over the globe. This means you get the best below-retail price for your bottle of wine. 

2. Provenance And Authenticity

Don’t be fooled into buying a counterfeit bottle of Screaming Eagle wine! Vinovest will do the research and make sure all wine bottles you want to buy are genuine before the money leaves your account.

3. Delivery When Buying Or Selling 

Bought a wine from Alois Lageder in Alto Adige and worried about shipping it home? Or do you want to sell your wine to an overseas buyer and not sure how to deliver it?

Vinovest will take care of all the shipping hassles for you!

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You don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy a high-performing portfolio! When you invest through Vinovest, an expert team of data scientists and Master Sommeliers help you curate your wine portfolio. 

5. Optimal Storage

Need some space for that sweet red wine you bought recently? Take advantage of Vinovest’s bonded warehouses to make sure all your wines are looked after and can age gracefully. 

6. Insurance Coverage And Security

Get your favorite Lambrusco and other fine wines insured under a comprehensive policy that protects each bottle from breakage or loss. 

7. Ownership

Even though Vinovest does all the hard work, you have the bragging rights to ownership of all the wines you purchase. That's right, every delicious bottle of sweet white wine or a tantalizing Tempranillo is 100% yours.

8. Low Overall Costs

The good news is, you can take advantage of all these benefits from Vinovest for a low annual fee of 2.5% (1.9% for portfolios above $50,000.) You also get tax advantages since bonded warehouses don’t charge VAT and excise duties.

Time to Build an Enviable Wine Collection!

Pinot Blanc could be called the unsung hero of white wines. It is a great wine from the Pinot family that works perfectly well at a brunch or a lively gathering.

Pinot Blanc is meant to be enjoyed in its youth, which makes it the perfect wine to sip on while you build your wine investment portfolio! 

And the best way to build your wine portfolio is through Vinovest.

Sign up today and start building the wine portfolio that you’ll be proud of!