Kris Pinot Grigio

Kris Pinot Grigio is a dry Italian white wine from the Delle Venezie DOC, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, reinforcing this label's reputation as one of the more serious Pinot Grigios at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Delle Venezie DOC, Italy  |  100% Pinot Grigio  |  Winery: Founded by Franz Haas, Montagna

Production & Heritage

Kris was launched in the mid-1990s by Franz Haas Winery, based in the Alpine town of Montagna in Alto Adige. Rather than relying on a single vineyard source, the winemaking team blends fruit from all three regions permitted under the Delle Venezie DOC: Veneto grapes supply delicate floral character and a classic almond finish, southwest-facing Alto Adige slopes contribute ripe yet fresh citrus and pear fruit, and the gravelly, well-drained Mulinat estate in Friuli produces low-yielding vines that intensify overall flavor concentration. Fermentation and aging occur entirely in stainless steel tanks, preserving the wine's bright acidity and clean aromatics without any oak influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Acacia flowers lead into lime zest and tangerine peel, with quieter layers of apricot and toasted almond emerging as the wine opens. The bouquet is distinctly alpine — floral without being perfumed, with a faint mineral edge.

Taste: The entry is crisp and citrus-driven, with lemon-lime acidity giving way to ripe Fuji apple at mid-palate. Hints of wet stone and linden add textural complexity, while a subtle honey-orange sweetness rounds out the peak without tipping into residual sugar territory. The overall impression is clean, balanced, and refreshingly dry.

Finish: Medium in length with a dry, focused close. Lingering notes of acacia honey and almond leave a gently bitter, food-friendly signature.

How to Drink Kris Pinot Grigio

Serve well chilled, around 45–50°F, in a standard white wine glass to concentrate the floral aromatics. This is a versatile wine that drinks just as well on its own as it does in mixed drinks. A Hugo Spritz — prosecco, elderflower, soda, and mint — works beautifully here, with Kris standing in for or alongside the prosecco to add citrus depth. In a White Wine Spritzer, the wine's natural acidity and mineral backbone hold up against dilution from soda water. For a Pinot Grigio Sangria with sliced stone fruit and fresh herbs, the apricot and honey undertones in Kris integrate naturally with seasonal summer fruit.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring light seafood or vegetable-forward dishes
• Bringing a reliable crowd-pleaser to a summer gathering or cookout
• Introducing someone to Italian Pinot Grigio beyond basic supermarket labels
• Building a by-the-glass rotation for casual entertaining at home

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kris Pinot Grigio taste like? Kris Pinot Grigio is a dry, crisp white wine dominated by lemon-lime citrus, Fuji apple, and subtle floral notes of acacia, with a gently honeyed almond finish. It has clean minerality and no oak influence, making it refreshing and straightforward.

How does Kris Pinot Grigio compare to Barone Fini Pinot Grigio? Both are Italian Pinot Grigios from northeastern Italy, but Kris draws fruit from three distinct sub-regions within the Delle Venezie DOC, while Barone Fini sources specifically from the Valdadige area. Kris tends to show more floral complexity and mineral depth, whereas Barone Fini often leans into a lighter, more straightforwardly citrus-driven profile.

Is Kris Pinot Grigio good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balanced acidity, floral aromatics, and clean dry finish make it an easy standalone pour, especially when served well chilled on a warm day.

Where is Kris Pinot Grigio made? Kris Pinot Grigio is produced in northeastern Italy under the Delle Venezie DOC, blending grapes from vineyards across Veneto, Alto Adige (Trentino), and Friuli. The brand was founded by Franz Haas Winery, located in the Alpine town of Montagna.

What foods pair well with Kris Pinot Grigio? Grilled shrimp or branzino, where the wine's acidity cuts through richness; fresh caprese salad, complementing the floral and citrus notes; light chicken piccata, matching the lemon-driven palate; risotto with spring vegetables, where the mineral finish refreshes each bite; and mild soft cheeses like fresh mozzarella or burrata.

What sizes does Kris Pinot Grigio come in? Kris Pinot Grigio is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Kris Pinot Grigio worth the price? Kris positions as a mid-range Pinot Grigio that consistently outperforms many wines at its level — a 90-point Wine Enthusiast rating for the 2023 vintage suggests genuine quality rather than mere brand recognition, making it a strong value within the Italian Pinot Grigio category.

Why Kris Pinot Grigio?

What separates Kris from the crowded field of Italian Pinot Grigios is deliberate multi-regional blending within the Delle Venezie DOC. By combining Veneto's floral elegance, Alto Adige's citrus brightness, and Friuli's concentrated low-yield fruit, the winemaking team achieves a layered profile that most single-source Pinot Grigios at this tier simply cannot match. The 90-point Wine Enthusiast score for the 2023 vintage confirms that the approach delivers consistent results vintage after vintage. For anyone who has dismissed Pinot Grigio as one-dimensional, Kris makes a compelling argument to reconsider.