All the medal-winners from the Global Pinot Gris Masters 2023

Find out all the medal-winners from the Global Pinot Gris Masters 2023, where alongside the Italians there was a range of wines from New Zealand, Australia, Oregon, and even England and Moldova.

Such is the dominance of Italy when it comes to Pinot Gris production, few consumers realise that the grape variety is French. A colour mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris is from Burgundy, and takes its name from the grape skins – which range from a grey-blue appearance to copper and light purple hues. But it is as Pinot Grigio, planted widely in northern Italy, and now successfully promoted as Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC that it has become famous worldwide.

This single DOC yields around 200 million bottles annually – representing two-thirds of Italy’s total Pinot Grigio production, and more than 40% of the output worldwide. With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that the Global Pinot Gris Masters 2023 featured so many samples from the delle Venezie DOC, and that, as a result, the competition was really a reflection of Pinot Grigio, as opposed to Pinot Gris, which is not only the grape’s name in its native nation of France, but also the synonym adopted by other countries when attempting to make a style of wine that has more viscosity.

In other words, if you see a wine labelled Pinot Gris, one can expect it to have a rich texture, often from harvesting the grapes late, but also from leaving small amounts of residual sugar in the wine too. For 2023, the focus was Pinot Grigio, not only as an Italian wine, but a drink that is fresh, dry and light. A wine much-loved for providing instant, chilled refreshment. It is a drop that has improved in recent years, combining bright acidity with a fruity appeal. This year’s best wines, which we highlight below, featured flavours of ripe pear, even white-fleshed peach, that were intense and persistent, as well as balanced by palate-cleansing characters ranging from crisp apple to lemon zest and bitter almond. In some cases, these wines were complemented – not overwhelmed – by the influence of oak, which when used sensitively to age Pinot Grigio can bring some weight to the mouth-feel and appealing notes of vanilla and toast, as found, for example, in La Roncaia Pinot Grigio from Colli Orientali del Friuli.

We tasted wines labelled Pinot Gris from locations including New Zealand, Australia, Oregon, and even England. Generally, such samples had a weightier texture, and less of the shrill acidity found in many of the Italian Pinot Grigios.

Pinot Gris may be a delicate grape in terms of aromatics and flavours, but when handled well, it can deliver an appealing drop, be it made in a fresh, linear manner or a rich and textured style.

Scroll down to find out more about the competition and see all the medal-winning wines from this year’s Global Pinot Gris Masters. 

Sparkling Pinot Gris

Unoaked Pinot Gris

Oaked Pinot Gris

Unoaked Rosé Pinot Gris

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Pinot Gris Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 12 June at Rotunda Kings Cross, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Pinot Gris Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com