Grape guide
Pinot Grigio vs Chardonnay
Pinot Grigio is the lighter, crisper wine, and it's best within a couple of years. Chardonnay is fuller and softer, and it keeps for longer. Both are normally dry. Both go with seafood.
Barello is a home cellar and bar app that tells you what to open tonight, what to keep, and what you can mix from what you have. It's free. It tells you when each wine you keep is at its best, and what to eat with the bottle you open.
Side by side
| Pinot Grigio | Chardonnay | |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Medium-light, 2 of 5 | Medium, 3 of 5 |
| Sweetness | Dry, 2 of 5 | Dry, 2 of 5 |
| Acidity | Medium-high, 4 of 5 | Medium, 3 of 5 |
| Tastes of | White peach, lemon zest, rockmelon, green almond and crushed gravel | Lemon, yellow apple, butter, vanilla and pineapple |
| When to drink | Best at about a year old, and within 2 years. | Best at about 4 years old, and good from 1 to about 7 years. French Chardonnay from Chablis and Burgundy: best at about 6 years old, and good from 2 to about 12 years. |
| Both go with | Seafood | |
| Also good with | Salads, fried food and goat's cheese | Roast chicken, creamy pasta, truffle dishes, caviar or smoked fish, oysters, salmon and mushrooms or risotto |
Scores are out of 5 and describe each grape in general. A bottle depends on where it was grown and how it was made. Ages count from the year on the label.
Which to pick
Pick Pinot Grigio if you'd like something light and crisp with salads, fried food or goat's cheese.
Pick Chardonnay if you want a fuller white for roast chicken, creamy pasta or salmon.
See when each bottle you own is at its best. Joining takes about thirty seconds.
Join freeQuestions people ask
Which is sweeter, Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay?
Neither. Both are normally made dry. Pinot Grigio tastes crisper because it has more acidity.
Is Pinot Grigio lighter than Chardonnay?
Yes. Pinot Grigio has a medium-light body and Chardonnay a medium one. Chardonnay tends to have more alcohol too, at 12 to 15% against 11.5 to 13.5% for Pinot Grigio.
Is Pinot Grigio the same as Pinot Gris?
Yes, it's the same grape. Pinot Grigio is its Italian name. Wines sold as Pinot Grigio are usually lighter and crisper than ones labelled Pinot Gris.
Body, sweetness, acidity, flavours and alcohol are Wine Folly's. Drinking ages and food matches are Barello's.
More on each: Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, and every grape in types of white wine. Or compare Pinot Grigio with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay with Sauvignon Blanc.