General information about Pinot Gris vine variety:

Pinot Gris, or synonymously “Ruländer”, originated from a mutation of Pinot Noir. In 1711, the merchant Johann Seger Ruland from Speyer discovered the variety in an overgrown vineyard and cultivated it. Internationally, it is known as Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio or Tokaj. Around 15,000 ha of Pinot Gris are cultivated worldwide, of which 4,450 ha in Germany. The largest part of this is located in Baden (1,640 ha), Rheinhessen (1,150 ha) and in the Palatinate (1,050 ha).

Grape :

The name of the variety is derived from the grey to violet colour of the skin of the berry. Characteristic are medium-sized, cylindrical and closed grapes with a round to elongated berry shape. In the compact grape structure of some classic clones there is a greater risk of botrytis and secondary rot such as vinegar and penicillium. This has prompted grape growers and breeders to work on clones of loose and mixed grapes. The yield level with average vigour varies from a moderate yield for the top and middle segments to a higher yield for the basic qualities. In many vintages, harvest maturity is reached about a week before Pinot Blanc.

Wine :

If the Pinot Grigio type is taken as a reference, light, lively, slender and fruity wines can be obtained with a sugar maturity of up to 90°Oe. At a higher maturity, the wines evolve into powerful, full-bodied Burgundy types with mild acidity and aromas of pineapple, walnuts, dried fruit and sultanas. In suitable vintages, dessert wines such as the noble sweet Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese are vinified.

Cultivation advice for Pinot Gris vine :

The variety prefers well-aerated places on deep and also calcareous soils. The tendency to misflowering is small in classic clones. Newer selections tend to show some misflowering during flowering, depending on the weather, and thus have a loose berry structure.

Preparation for Pinot Gris vine :

Put your vine in a bucket of water for 24 hours. This way it can suckle itself full again before planting out.

Ground preparation :

You can improve your soil with lava grit (if lime soil) or with bentonite and lava flour (if sandy soil).

Planting out a grapevine :

Make a hole with a diameter of 10 cm and +/- 30 cm deep with a ground drill or spade. And plant the vine with the graft just above the ground. The vine may come out of the ground between 5 and 10 cm. Plant your vines between May 1 and May 15 and leave 1 meter between the plants and 1.5 to 1.8 meters between the rows.

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