Ep 574: The Grape Miniseries -- Pinot Blanc

Ep 574: The Grape Miniseries -- Pinot Blanc

Author: Elizabeth Schneider August 13, 2025 Duration: 41:15

In this week's show, I cover Pinot Blanc as part of the grape miniseries.

 

Pinot Blanc is a white color mutation of Pinot Noir, native to Burgundy/Bourgogne. It creates refreshing light- to medium-bodied wines that run the gamut from simple sippers to much more complex, oak-aged versions, to excellent sweet and sparkling wines.


Photo: Pinot Blanc.  Credit: Wines of Austria

 

This lovely grape is often described as a "workhorse" and not treated with much reverence, partially because it is often seen as inferior to its cousin Chardonnay. But a handful of producers these days are showing that Pinot Blanc can be a lot more than a light sipper. When grown on the right sites and treated well, this grape can create beautiful, complex wines. With its high acidity and medium sugars, it is also extremely versatile -- making great still, sparkling, dry, or sweet wines.

 

In the show, as I always do with the grape miniseries, I cover the history of the grape, how it behaves in the vineyard, the aroma and flavors and how it changes with winemaking. I end with where it is grown and food pairing ideas.

 

This show has a lot of producer names in it because I know that it is hard to find good versions of Pinot Blanc, so I'm trying to steer you in the right direction.

 

Full show notes with producer names and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!

 

www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

_______________________________________________________________

 

Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access.  They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year! 

 

To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with me or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

 


Elizabeth Schneider hosts Wine for Normal People, a podcast built on the idea that you can enjoy wine deeply without the pretension. It’s for anyone who finds the world of wine intriguing but is put off by the jargon and gatekeeping. Here, conversations about wine are just that-conversations. Elizabeth approaches topics with a fun and straightforward perspective, aiming to spark genuine excitement and help you discover more interesting bottles to enjoy. Roughly half of the episodes feature guests, but these aren’t formal interviews. Instead, they’re relaxed, educational discussions with passionate friends from the wine world, all people Elizabeth knows personally or through close connections. This creates a uniquely authentic and comfortable atmosphere, as if you’re listening in on a chat between friends who happen to know a lot about what’s in your glass. The focus is always on practical knowledge and shared enthusiasm, stripping away the snobbery to make wine feel accessible and endlessly fascinating. Tune into this podcast to hear honest talk about regions, grapes, and tasting, all designed to make your own journey with wine more rewarding and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 93

Wine for Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Ep 585: Ten White Wines for Winter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:32
At the suggestion of Patron John D., in this show I give you a list of 10 great winter whites and review each in detail! I discuss the varied styles, since most regions have multiple versions of these wines, and how to g…
Ep 584: The Grape Miniseries Refresh - Riesling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:16
This time in the grape miniseries -- a refresh on one of my all time favorite grapes -- Riesling. This versatile grape has a long history of quality, and is highly misunderstood by most people. I review the long and nobl…
Ep 583: The Greats of Bordeaux - Graves and Pessac-Léognan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:13
Lying just south of the city of Bordeaux is one of the oldest winemaking regions in the Bordeaux AOC -- Graves. Graves, along with it sub appellation of Pessac-Leognan are covered in this show as two of the great of Bord…
Ep 582: Back to Basics –  Wine Etiquette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:53
This time I revisit a show from long ago on Wine Etiquette. In this Back-to-Basics episode, I cover the three main places you would use etiquette - a dinner party, a restaurant, and a tasting room. I address: The Dinner…
Ep 580: The Grape Miniseries (refresh) -- Tempranillo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:30
It's been 13 years since I've done a grape miniseries on Tempranillo, so it was high time! This grape has come a long way in a decade +, proving that it has more nuance, terroir driven finesse, and versatility than it ge…
Ep 579: The Greats of Bordeaux - Moulis with Listrac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
This week I finish up the communal appellations of the Médoc for our "Greats of Bordeaux" series with Moulis! Map: Wines of the Médoc Although the communes of Moulis and Listrac are often seen as one in the same because…
Ep 578: The Greats - Chianti Classico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:09
This week I return to The Greats series in which I explore the greatest wines in the world and how they became such big deals. Photo: Vineyards in Chianti Classico. Credit: Unsplash Chianti Classico, with its 700+ years…
Ep 577: The Wines of South Africa - Refresh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:02
This week's show is on South Africa, a much more historic region than many realize, it has been making wine for more than 350 years. Although considered a 'New World' wine region, winemaking and ethos are often more orie…