Day 4

Temp Note: This wine should be chilled to about 45ºF / 50ºF. (Pop it in the fridge overnight and take it out 10 minutes prior to serving.) The wine will be crisper at a cooler temperature and more fruity/aromatic when enjoying the wine at a slightly warmer temperature.

 

We are tossing in a softer style of Pinot Gris from King Estate for today! Here you’ll find notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and white flowers.

 

A word on Mutations, Clones, & the Pinots

When a vineyard is planted, the producer will normally use a cutting of a mother vine. All of the cuttings will be genetically identical to that vine variety. Over time a mutation may occur in one of the planted vines; it may be a variation of berry size, different flavor characteristics, higher quality fruit, or even disease resistance! The mutations with positive outcomes will then be selected for future cuttings. AND BOOM! A clone is born.

According to Jancis Robinson’s Wine Grapes, ‘Pinot has mutated more than any other variety due to the length of time that the grape has been propagated (around 2,000 years).’ Look at you, Pinot, adapting and pumping out new clones for us to fawn over! The most prominent genetic mutations are Pinot Gris (AKA Pinot Grigio), Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier; all of which have different berry colors but the same DNA markers as the main grape Pinot.