Beringer Pinot Grigio Review (2023) – Founders’ Estate

Beringer Pinot Grigio Featured

What Kind of Wine Is Beringer Pinot Grigio?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is a refreshing dry white wine from Napa Valley, California. Aromas of green fruits with just a hint of honeysuckle and lavender complement citrus and tropical components on the palate. A rounded mouthfeel and balanced acidity on the finish conclude Beringer Pinot Grigio’s tasting profile elegantly.

Pinot Grigio is a white grape variety coming from the Pinot family of grapes, just like Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. Typically Pinot Grigio grapes have a blue color with gray hues. It originates in Burgundy, France, but it is widely produced in the Alsace region of France, where it is usually called Pinot Gris. Additionally, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and California produce also great Pinot Grigio wines.

Now, Pinot Grigio can be both dry and sweet. For the most part, dry Pinot Grigio wines come from northern Italy. The mountainous terroir help Pinot Grigio grapes maintain their acidity, giving a lighter-bodied style. On the contrary, in Alsace, Pinot Grigio tends to be sweeter and more fruity, with notes of candied grapefruit and honey. This is achieved because in Alsace, the grapes are harvested late, when they have reduced acidity but stronger flavor.


Beringer Founders’ Estate Pinot Grigio Review

  • Winery — Beringer
  • Country/Region — United States, California, Napa Valley County, St. Helena
  • Type — Californian Pinot Grigio
  • Aroma — Honeysuckle, Lavender, Pineapple, Pear, Apple, Cherry
  • Grapes — Pinot Grigio
  • Taste — Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime Zest, Mango, Plum, Honey, Vanilla Spice
  • Alcohol Content — 13.9%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Seafood, Chicken, Salads

Beringer Pinot Grigio has clean aromas and flavors and a balance. And it makes a versatile and enjoyable drink. It might have a bit faint flavors, but that makes it a fantastic palate cleanser. Therefore, you could serve with different courses, alternating between sour and sweet flavors. To sum it up, this bottling is palatable, turning out a crowd-pleaser.

Overall Rating: 3.9

Positives
  • Fragrant Nose
  • Easy On The Palate
  • Great Finish
  • Brisk Acidity
Negatives
  • Low Complexity
  • Little Creaminess

Tasting Notes

Beringer Pinot Grigio is palatable. It begins with gentle floral fragrances and bright green fruit aromas. Slight notes of red fruit also appear as they form the aromatic bouquet. In the mouth, the wine shows an equally refreshing tone. Flavors of citrus join a hint of mango, combining with honey touches and baking touches. The ending is pleasing with moderate but lively acidity.

Appearance

Beringer Pinot Grigio is an innocent-looking Pinot Grigio. It has a pale lemon-green color that opens into an ultraclean core. Consequently, Beringer Pinot Grigio wine is clean with brilliant clarity. Near the rim, however, a lightly medium lemon reflection develops, providing vividness and density. The tears of the wine are long, watery, and well-appreciated.

Aroma

As the wine reaches the nose, aromas of apple and pear elevate. These are accompanied by hints of honeysuckle and lavender, attracting wine enthusiasts. Next, touches of red and tropical fruits are present too. Cherry and mango blend harmonically to define Beringer’s Pinot Grigio aromatic profile.

Taste

Beringer Pinot Grigio is delicious with citrus and exotic flavors. Grapefruit, lemon, and lime zest tastes offer brightness and straightforwardness, while a mango hint gives a plush sensation. However, Beringer Pinot Grigio also exhibits a note of black fruit in the form of plum as it gets warmer inside the mouth. Lastly, honey touches join a flavor of vanilla spice, adding a creamy, smooth texture.

Finish

Beringer Pinot Grigio has a long aftertaste, flooded with lingering mango flavors. Elements of vanilla spice also appear. Furthermore, a vivid acidity characterizes Beringer Pinot Grigio’s finish. It refreshes the mouth, cleansing it. In this way, wine fans get ready for another delicious sip.

Rating

By tasting the wine, I take in extra dryness, crispiness, and upfront flavors of citrus, balanced by zippy acidity. Consequently, I find the wine a good example of Napa Valley winemaking. That said, at times, it feels faint, without flavor intensity. Still, though, it is super pleasant and savory and can make wine enthusiasts grin.

Beringer Pinot Grigio Food Pairing

Beringer Pinot Grigio is delightful with light summer dishes, such as shrimp ceviche, chicken piccata, spaghetti pepper and lemon with pine nuts, and a hearty Greek salad. In other words, there is no shortage of dishes to pair the wine with. Seafood is a staple and accompanies Pinot Grigios marvelously as also chicken. In a similar fashion, pasta with lemon zest or even garlic matches the wine’s capriciousness. Finally, the Greek salad provides freshness and crispiness on a first level. But with the addition of olive oil and Feta cheese, an oily and creamy texture is added. Beringer Pinot Grigio tastes great with oily foods as well, so the fullness of the salad is welcoming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Makes Beringer Pinot Grigio?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is a product of Beringer Vineyards, located in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1876 by Frederick Beringer, Beringer Vineyards have established the Beringer Founders’ Estate line of wines, offering concentrated expressions of popular varietals. Winemaker at Beringer Vineyards is Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of founder’s brother, Jacob Beringer. Mark has been immersed in wine from the moment he was born.

Mark knew from a young age that he had to step right in the footsteps of the family’s winemaking heritage. He started working at the family’s wine store in St. Helena, expanding his knowledge of wine, before becoming involved with wine-growing and winemaking. In 1992, he joined Duckhorn, where he worked his way up to become Vice President of Winemaking. In 2009, he joined Artesa as Vice President and Winemaker. And in 2015, Mark was appointed Chief Winemaker at Beringer Vineyards, his home winery, replacing acclaimed Winemaker Emeritus Laurie Hook.

How Is Beringer Pinot Grigio Made?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is delicate and needs careful handling at the winery to avoid oxidation and acidification. After harvest, the grapes are destemmed and crushed. Crushing breaks the skins of the grapes and liberates a quantity of juice. But damaging the seeds should be avoided. Otherwise, they release bitter oils and tannin, and the final wine becomes astringent and bitter.

After crushing, pressing follows. Pressing separates the liquid and the solid constituents of grapes. Seeds should remain undamaged once again. Then, the grape juice ferments in one-hundred percent stainless steel temperature-controlled tanks to capture citrus and tropical flavors. Several additional weeks of aging also are required to develop Pinot Grigio unique character. When fermentation is over, the wine is filtered from yeasts and bottled.

Where Is Beringer Pinot Grigio Made?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is from St. Helena, Napa Valley, where vineyards inspire, offering remarkable fruit, and from vineyards in the California Delta. These vineyards are bathed in sunshine in the day and experience cool nights that allow them to increase the grape ripening. On top of that, some fruit from the Central Coast is influenced by the marine layer. The geographic differences between the two wine-growing regions contribute to distinctive flavors and characteristics that make Beringer Pinot Grigio appealing. California is considered the center of the American winemaking industry. The Mediterranean climate provides crucial warmth to the vines, resulting in elegant wines.

Unlike wines produced in other parts of the world, Californian wines prefer to conserve their refreshing fruitiness in favor of structure and great elaborateness. They remain delicate, ignoring unnecessary complexity. St. Helena is in the north of Napa County. It receives the warmest daytime temperatures and produces some of the most concentrated, full-bodied wines in the region. Cool air through the Chalk Hill and the Mayacamas Mountains provides relief from oppressive afternoon temperatures. The also much cooler nighttime temperatures preserve acidity in the grapes. Although Cabernet Sauvignon is the focus here, Zinfandel and Syrah are also grown.

How to Serve Beringer Pinot Grigio?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is elegant, like most Pinot Grigios. Hence, serve it in medium-sized white wine glasses or tulip glasses. The large surface of the glass gives the wine essential aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the aromatic and flavor intensity of the wine rises. On top of that, Beringer Pinot Grigio can be chilled at forty-five to fifty degrees Fahrenheit (ten to thirteen degrees Celsius). By cooling it, you help the wine increase its crispiness.

Moreover, Beringer Pinot Grigio must remain cool during service. To do that, use an ice bucket or wine cooler. The bucket should be filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. Be careful, though, as over-chilling masks flavors in wines.

How Much Does Beringer Pinot Grigio Cost?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is a budget-friendly wine with an average retail price. Beringer Pinot Grigio price ranges from $9 to $14 per 750ml bottle, depending on the vintage and the vendor. Therefore, consumers do not have to pay significantly to obtain it. They can purchase a very bright and flavorful beverage without having to pay a hefty price. At this price point, Beringer Pinot Grigio is a steal.

How Long Does Beringer Pinot Grigio Last?

I would not recommend placing Beringer Pinot Grigio for bottle aging. The wine has to be consumed young. The longer it remains uncorked, the decline of its fruitiness worsens. As a straightforward white, Beringer Pinot Grigio cannot withstand long-term maturation. It does not have grippy tannins or sugar concentration. And despite having a high alcohol concentration, maturing does not guarantee Beringer Pinot Grigio will develop flavored secondary or tertiary tastes. For this reason, wine enthusiasts must consume the wine within six months to a year from the date of bottling.

How Many Calories Does Beringer Pinot Grigio Have?

Beringer Pinot Grigio is a fine wine choice for consumers on a diet or those who want to monitor their caloric intake. There are about 22 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, equating to a total of 120 calories per serving. The calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fat, 7.3 grams of sodium, 3.8 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and 1.4 grams of total sugars. As a consequence, Beringer Pinot Grigio calories are not concerning. That is except for the grams of sodium. These are a bit high and need to be taken under consideration. Beringer Pinot Grigio alcohol content sits at 13,9% per 750ml bottle, a super high alcohol concentration for a Pinot Grigio.

Conclusion

Beringer Pinot Grigio has clean aromas and flavors and a balance. And it makes a versatile and enjoyable drink. It might have a bit faint flavors, but that makes it a fantastic palate cleanser. Therefore, you could serve with different courses, alternating between sour and sweet flavors. To sum it up, this bottling is palatable, turning out a crowd-pleaser.

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