The Pinot Gris variety of wine grape has experienced rapid growth in popularity in Australia and Western Australia. Such is its popularity that it is no longer considered an alternative variety for wine grape production. Pinot Gris was planted in Manjimup for evaluation of grape and wine production in 2004.
| Budburst (E-L 4) | Full bloom (E-L 23) | Veraison (E-L 35) | Harvest (E-L 38) |
| Mid-September | Mid-late November | Late January | Late February |
Pinot Gris showed good field establishment to produce highly fertile vines with early cropping potential. Within the first two years of planting vine vigour was very low, with fruit load reduced to enable vine establishment. Pinot Gris vines produce small canopies with numerous grape bunches that are compact and contain small berries.
Pinot Gris ripens very early in the season and needs to be monitored for protection from birds. Pinot Gris was a late inclusion in the evaluation and could yield more fruit when vines are mature. Due to its compact bunches, Pinot Gris can be prone to Botrytis and sunburn in exposed canopies. Berry flavours were found to be subdued, and the wines showed distinct pear and apple aromas which continued onto the palate.
| Productivity | High | Berry weight | Low |
| Bunch weight | Medium | Fruit yield | 3.8kg/vine |
| Disease susceptibility | Low-medium | Equivalent yield | 6.3t/ha |
| Bunch compaction | High | Vigour | Low–medium |
| Juice TSS (°Brix) | 22.9 | Juice Baumé | 12.7 |
| Juice pH | 3.1 | Juice TA g/L | 7.5 |
Wine sensory assessment
Results from a consumer survey showed that 68 per cent of respondents liked the aroma, 68 per cent liked the flavour, 81 per cent liked the body, 70 per cent liked the style and 78 per cent found the variety to have commercial potential.
Wine judging results
Wine judging results awarded out of a maximum of 20 points.
| 2010 Qantas Wine Show | 2011 Timber Towns Wine Show |
| 14.9 | 15.9 |