Pinot Grigio Vs Sauvignon Blanc: 7 Key Differences, Best Wines (2024)

Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are two hugely popular white wines with their own fan following worldwide.

While the Pinot Gris grape variety is loved for its easy-drinking wines with citrus notes, the Sauvignon Blanc variety is known for its crisp, vibrant wines.

Let’s compare Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc and discover seven noteworthy differences. We’ll also look at how they compare to other popular white wines and the 10 best bottles to buy in 2024.

Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc: 7 Key Differences

Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc have some striking differences.

1. Grape Characteristics
2. Wine Regions
3. Tasting Notes
4. Food Pairings
5. Winemaking
6. Alcohol Content
7. Use in Cooking

1. Grape Characteristics

Both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio grapes originated in France.

Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir, a red wine grape. For a white wine grape, Grigio is surprisingly dark with a blueish-grey color.

Pinot Grigio is the same as Pinot Gris. The only difference is the regions they’re grown in. The white wine grape is known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, and Pinot Gris in France.

The Sauvignon Blanc grape has bright green skin and is the parent of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

2. Wine Regions

The Pinot Grigio white grape variety is grown worldwide, most famously in Italy, France, Germany, and the USA.

In France, Pinot Grigio grapes (or Pinot Gris) are also used to make Champagne. 

Sauvignon Blanc is also very popular and is grown in most established wine regions globally. Some notable regions include New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

3. Tasting Notes

Pinot Grigio wine has a golden yellow hue with light citrus, peach, and apple flavor, and slight acidity.

Sauvignon Blanc wine tasting reveals high acidity, flinty and earthy aromas, a tropical fruit flavor, and a golden straw color.

Grigio and Sauvignon are usually dry whites but can also pack a modest sweetness if the winemaker doesn’t completely ferment the grape sugar.

4. Food Pairings

Pinot Grigio white wine compliments seafood, creamy pasta, and mozzarella cheese.

A Sauvignon Blanc also pairs well with seafood and pasta, and it’s well-suited for white meats, mild vinaigrettes, and medium-soft cheese.

5. Winemaking

The two major Pinot Grigio wine styles are Italian and Alsatian. 

Italian Pinot Grigio sees an early harvest, giving the wine good acidity and a neutral profile. Alsatian-style Pinot Grigio sees a later harvest, meaning the wine has less acidity and a fruitier taste.

Pinot Grigio wine usually ferments in stainless steel tanks,which gives Pinot Grigio its tell-tale crispness.

Alsatian Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris wine) has greater acidity and an oily mouthfeel. This is because the Pinot Gris grape goes through malolactic fermentation and lees aging.

Sauvignon Blanc, like Grigio, ferments in stainless steel tanks but at lower temperatures to preserve acidity. 

Winemakers in regions like France prefer the wine to contact the grape skins to boost acidity. On the other hand, in the USA, the grape skins are removed early - because removing the grape skins helps the wine age better.

Sauvignon Blanc is also made as a sweet wine in some New World wine regions and comes with tropical flavors.

6. Alcohol Content

Both Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc white wine have around 12.5%-13.5% alcohol content.

7. Use in Cooking

As dry wines, both Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc white wine make excellent cooking wines.

Adding Pinot Grigio to a baked apple recipe or a beurre blanc sauce will give your dishes more complexity.

Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent deglazing wine, and adding some to a chicken dish or a vinaigrette provides an excellent finish. 

Now, let’s look at some delicious white wine bottles.

10 Best Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here are some of the best Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Bottles To Buy In 2024:

• 2007 Gravner Anfora Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy 
• 2013 Dario Princic Pinot Grigio - Sivi Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy 
• 2014 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy 
• 2016 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy 
• 2014 Bressan Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy  
• 2013 Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville, USA 
• 2003 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Asteroide, Loire, France 
• 2018 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux, France 
• 2014 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 
• 2017 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 

1. 2007 Gravner Anfora Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ($145)

This Grigio white wine is exceptionally light and has sweet red fruit flavors on the palate.

2. 2013 Dario Princic Pinot Grigio - Sivi Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ($110)

With plums and fig on the nose, this Grigio has an intense orange and apricot flavor and a dry aftertaste.

3. 2014 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ($25)

This crisp white wine has a bright apple flavor and citrus hit. The nose has a cucumber undertone followed by some earth.

4. 2016 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ($16)

This 2016 Grigio has a pear and honey flavor with zesty citrus aromas on the nose.

5. 2014 Bressan Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy ($70)

This 2014 Grigio white wine with honey, balsamic, and orange peel notes has aromas of bergamot and burnt sugar.

6. 2013 Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville, USA ($7,932)

This Napa Valley wine has Bordeaux white aromatics and a crystalline palate with grapefruit, fresh flowers, and honeydew flavor.

7. 2003 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Asteroide, Loire, France ($2,660)

A 2003 Sauvignon, this flinty white wine reveals a bouquet of yellow cherries and white plums. There are passion fruit and wet stone notes on the palate.

8. 2018 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux, France ($297)

Here’s a medium-bodied Sauvignon wine with vanilla, butter, and citrus notes. Expect vibrant aromas of lemon juice and freshly cut grass.

9. 2014 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($19)

The nose of this white wine permeates tropical fruit and stone. The palate is chalky with a citrus flavor and a zesty finish.

10. 2017 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($17)

This dry wine exhibits vegetal notes of grass, gooseberries, and green peas. There are flinty minerals on the nose, followed by a herbaceous scent.

Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc Vs. Other Popular White Wines

Here’s how Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc compare to other popular white wines.

• Chardonnay Wine: There are two main types of Chardonnay,a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape. Oaked Chardonnay is more buttery with a softer acidity compared to Sauv Blanc. On the other hand, unoaked Chardonnay is richer and has a fuller body than Sauvignon or Grigio. 

Chardonnay can also be a sparkling wine.

• Chenin Blanc Wine: Chenin is a dry white wine like Sauvignon, with aged notes from the oak barrels. Chenin can also be a sweet white wine, a dessert wine, or even a sparkling wine.
• Pinot Blanc Wine: It is generally creamier than Grigio and Sauvignon.  Italian style Pinot Blanc white wine is called Pinot Bianco.   
• Grüner Veltliner Wine: This white wine has nuttier flavors than Grigio and Sauv Blanc.

Pick Your Favourite Pinot Grigio Or Sauvignon Blanc Bottle

With their perfect acidity, unique flavors, and seductive aromas, both Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are excellent dry whites.

While Pinot Grigio wines are best to be drunk young, you will find age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs that also make a good long-term investment.

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