Pinot Gris
At Inman Family Wines, we craft a stylish and distinctly individualistic Russian River Valley Pinot Gris that represents the unique growing conditions of the region. The cool climate and well-drained soils in the Russian River Valley allow the grapes to ripen slowly, allowing fully mature flavors to develop while preserving a crisp elegance.
Our OGV Pinot Gris exhibits classic floral notes on the nose – typically citrus blossoms and honeysuckle. The palate often reveals stone fruits like nectarine and white peach, along with lime and lemon zest and a layer of spices like nutmeg and ginger. The bright, racy acidity tingles the taste buds and the finish is always smooth and long. These delicate aromas, attractive flavors and the opulent texture all supported by balanced acidity make the Inman Family Pinot Gris an ideal food wine – capable of aging for many years.
When planting the OGV Estate property in the Russian River Valley, Kathleen Inman was advised not to plant Pinot Gris because the wine sold at a lower price point than Pinot Noir would. But her bet paid off: vintage after vintage, her Russian River Valley Pinot Gris has received accolades from wine critics and customers alike.
Accolades for Inman Pinot Gris
Our 2023 Pinot Gris received 93 Points from James Suckling:
Complex aromas of peaches, brioche, baking spices, Asian pears and fresh herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with a textural mouthfeel and a nice phenolic edge. Quite generous and powerful, with a fresh finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Library Pinot Gris
In March 2026, wine collectors Tom and Andrea Gutting did a vertical tasting of our Pinot Gris. His notes on four library vintages of our Pinot Gris are below. For past Pinot Gris and other vintages and varietals visit our Library Wines page.
“The immediate impression is the color. You can’t distinguish it from a bigger style of young California Chardonnay — medium yellow, maybe a hint of a honeyed color. This is not a 21+ year old wine. That’s for sure. The nose is mature but strikingly so. There was a whiff of something like reduction or petrol that evoked dry Riesling, along with some honeyed apple. But there wasn’t any oxidation. On the palate, this was just absurd — this is not 20-year-old Pinot Gris. This is real wine! It was rich in texture but bone dry. The acidity had almost entirely resolved, but there was a nutty, apple-laden palate with a hint of lemon and fig. The body and texture to this was fascinating, and it really reflected the hot vintage. A remarkable wine that was more than just an intellectual exercise to drink.”
“A striking comparison to the 2004. Just a year separated, but this is a testament to vintage. The 2005 is a couple shades lighter in color, and you still get some of the youthful apple-peach-lemon notes on the nose. There is a similar, though less-prominent, reduction/petrol note, but this is decidedly less mature. There’s still great minerality. On the palate, this is also a couple notches fresher, and it really boggles my mind this is 20 years old. Again, the screw cap? It’s a superb testament to how they age wine. The palate showed more apple, closer in line to the 2004, but this wine showed off the cooler vintage and its ageability. There’s still acidity here. It’s beautiful, though arguably quite lacking the complexity, depth, and texture of the 2004. A striking wine.”
“I’ve had an ambivalent relationship with 2007 California wines. Heralded as a perfect vintage that let winemakers make the wine they wanted, it’s one of the most variable in aging and has been the source of a great number of disappointments over the years. Not this 2007 Pinot Gris. This barely shows age in its color. Just a couple shades of darker yellow from the almost greenish youthful version. The nose absolutely gives you the pear-lemon-ginger of a youthful Pinot Gris, with just a whiff of the reduction/petrol. The palate was rocking and youthful, showing off great minerality and acidity to go with an apricot-pear-lemon profile. This wine really shone on the finish, extended and generous.”
“14-ish years old? No way. The color of this wine doesn’t look any different from the glorious 2023 that we’ve opened in the past year. It’s green-tinged yellow. The nose is full of minerals, white flowers, lemon, and white peach. The palate is similarly youthful — bright, focused, acidic, with a distinctly sharp apple fruit that gives it the refreshing quality you expect out of excellent Pinot Gris. There’s a mouth-watering quality, and I’m a little embarrassed to say, man, this would be a great pool wine. Shockingly youthful and a delight.”
About Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris grapes produce a white wine with a varied hue, extending from a pale green to straw to a rose color. The wine style ranges from crisp, light, and dry, such as those produced in northern Italy (where Pinot Gris is called Pinot Grigio), to richly, textured, aromatic wines from France’s Alsace region (where Pinot Gris is called Tokay d’Alsace).
Perfect Pairing
Pinot Gris pairs nicely with vegetable dishes, appetizers, simply prepared fish, such as salmon and halibut, and shellfish, particularly crab and scallops. Pinot Gris’ good acidity and slightly spicy characteristics complement the herbs and spices found in Thai and Indian cuisine.
Take a look at some of our wine pairing recipes.