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SatMay 17

Pinot Grigio Day – May 17, 2025

Pinot Grigio Day is celebrated annually on May 17. Pinot grigio is the second most popular white wine style in the United States. It’s a crisp, fruity, food-friendly white wine that can go well with seafood dishes. Most people believe Pinot grigio originated in Italy. But, pinot gris, the grape pinot grigio came from, was born in France like many of the world’s most popular grapes. In the case of white wine, pinot grigio and pinot gris have different flavor profiles. So, have you got yourself a bottle of pinot grigio to celebrate the day?

History of Pinot Grigio Day

According to Checkiday, Pinot Grigio Day was founded by Cavit and was first celebrated on May 26, 2017. And since 2018, it has been observed annually on May 17. Cavit, founded in 1957 in Trentino, Italy, is a winemaking company committed to sustainability. Cavit is best known for its pinot grigio — celebrated as America’s number one pinot grigio. Cavit’s pinot grigio is described as white wine with light, refreshing flavors of citrus and green apple, which is perfectly suitable with pasta in cream sauces, risottos, veal, chicken, and fresh seafood dishes.

Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris is a variety of white wine grape that originated in France. While in Italy, people call it Pinot grigio. Pinot Gris, like pinot blanc, is a color mutation of pinot noir. The pinot gris grapes produce wines that range in color, from a deep golden yellow to copper and a light shade of pink. Pinot grigio and pinot Gris wines are categorized based on which style they are made in, the Italian or the French. Furthermore, both pinot grigio and Pinot Girs have different flavor profiles.

The pinot grigio is the most popular of the two wines. It’s light-bodied, crisp, clean, and vibrant with citrus flavors. On the other hand, pinot gris is medium-bodied and sweet with spicy tropical fruit aromas. It commonly has low acidity, high alcohol levels, and an oily texture. When it comes to food pairing, both have their own. While pinot grigio is great for the food we mentioned before, pinot gris is excellent for spicy food, heavier and flavorful dishes, and spicy aromas because of its sweetness. However, you ultimately decide how to use these two wines on Pinot Grigio Day. But we’re sure whichever you choose will enhance your dish to the next level!

Pinot Grigio Day timeline

The Middle Ages
Pinot Gris

Pinot gris is recognized in Burgundy, France.

1300
Arrival in Switzerland

Pinot gris arrives in Switzerland, along with pinot noir.

1832
Arrival in Australia

Pinot gris is first introduced in Australia.

1979
Arrival in the U.S.

Pinot grigio wine is first introduced in America.

Pinot Grigio Day FAQs

What does the French word pinot mean?

Pinot means pine cone in French.

Can pinot grigio get you drunk?

Yes, pinot grigio can get you drunk.

Is Riesling a white wine?

Riesling is a white wine made from grapes in the Rhine region of Germany.

Pinot Grigio Day Activities

  1. Buy a bottle

    Buy a bottle of pinot grigio from your favorite brand of white wine and enjoy it responsibly. Enjoy it on a hot summer’s day.

  2. Tell your friends

    Tell your friends about the day in case they don’t know. Invite them over and drink together.

  3. Pair it with food

    Pair your pinot grigio with food. Be it pasta, risotto, or fresh seafood; the choice is yours.

5 Facts About Pinot Gris You Need To Know

  1. It ripens quickly

    Pinot gris ripens quickly and is harvested annually.

  2. It’s best served cold

    Depending on the particular wine, around 45-degree Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature to serve pinot grigio wine.

  3. It adds richness to your dishes

    Pinot grigio wine is excellent to put on when you make dishes like pasta carbonara.

  4. It’s the name of the grape color

    The color of pinot gris is typically bluish-gray; gris is French for gray, and grigio is Italian for gray.

  5. It tastes best when young

    It’s better to enjoy your pinot grigio when it’s still young because, after two years, its distinct fruity flavors will begin to fade.

Why We Love Pinot Grigio Day

  1. It’s refreshing

    Pinot grigio wine is light-bodied and refreshing. This means we can enjoy more than a glass in one sitting without a problem. Better yet, it still tastes great with or without food.

  2. We can learn about wine

    Pinot Grigio Day can make us curious about its history. We then know more about its origin, another variety of grapes, and the wine — resulting in us appreciating it much more.

  3. We love wine

    We all need some time to chill, you know. And enjoying a glass of pinot grigio is one of the ways.

Pinot Grigio Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 May 17 Saturday
2026 May 17 Sunday
2027 May 17 Monday
2028 May 17 Wednesday
2029 May 17 Thursday