Pinot Blanc

Type: White

Origin: France

Body: Medium

Tannins: N/A

Acidity: Medium

Food Pairings

Meat/Fish

Roast Chicken with Herbs

Seared Scallops

White Fish with Lemon Butter

Crab Cakes

Pork Tenderloin with Apples

Cheese

Brie

Comté

Burrata

Fontina

Other

Mushroom Risotto

Quiche Lorraine

Leek and Potato Soup

Asparagus with Hollandaise

About Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blanc (also known as Weissburgunder in Germany and Austria) is a mutated white grape from the Pinot Noir family. Though often overshadowed by its more aromatic cousins like Chardonnay or Riesling, Pinot Blanc is prized for its subtle elegance, gentle fruit, and smooth texture.

It thrives in cool-climate regions where it retains freshness and develops quiet complexity. In Alsace, it’s used both for still wines and Crémant d’Alsace sparkling wines. In Italy, it’s known as Pinot Bianco and used in both crisp alpine whites and high-quality Franciacorta sparkling wines. In Germany and Austria, Weissburgunder is gaining acclaim for textural, mineral-driven dry wines.

Pinot Blanc offers an excellent middle ground between neutrality and nuance, making it extremely versatile with food.

Winemaking

Pinot Blanc is vinified in a wide range of styles. For fresh and aromatic wines, winemakers use stainless steel fermentation. For more texture and depth, it may be fermented or aged in oak barrels, or kept on its lees to add richness. In sparkling wine production (e.g., Crémant d’Alsace, Franciacorta), Pinot Blanc contributes body and subtle fruit to blends. Because of its balanced acidity and moderate alcohol, it’s a favorite for understated yet elegant dry whites, often in a Chardonnay-like style but with less overt oak or fruit.

Key Growing Regions

Alsace (France)

Used in both still wines and Crémant d’Alsace; subtle, floral, and lightly nutty expressions.

Alto Adige & Friuli (Italy)

Known as Pinot Bianco; vibrant alpine whites with crisp acidity and apple-pear profiles.

Germany & Austria

Called Weissburgunder; dry, mineral-driven wines with structure and finesse.

USA (California, Oregon)

Cool-climate examples with creamy fruit and hints of oak; some are styled like unoaked Chardonnay.

Luxembourg & Switzerland

Small but notable plantings used in clean, fresh wines.

Fun Facts

1

Pinot Blanc is a natural mutation of Pinot Noir, sharing its DNA with Pinot Gris as well.

2

In Alsace, Pinot Blanc often includes a portion of Auxerrois, a richer blending partner.

3

It’s one of the main grapes used in Crémant d’Alsace, a top-value sparkling wine.

4

Pinot Blanc is frequently compared to Chardonnay, but it’s often leaner and more restrained.

5

The grape is highly adaptable—used for still, sparkling, and even sweet wines in some regions.

Pinot Blanc

Quick Facts

Appearance

Body

Acidity

Alcohol

Aging