Pinot Blanc

Let's go to Komarno on the Slovak banks of the Danube, just across the border from Hungary. We had lots of choices today, but we chose Slovakia because we haven't been here on this journey. To get to Komarno, we flew into the capital city of Bratislava. From there we drove south into Hungary and traversed east alon the Danube for about an hour until crossing to the north from the Hungarian town of Komaron to the Slovak town of Komarno. Until the end of World War I, they were a single town.

At the end of WWI, with Hungary, then part of Austria-Hungary, having been on the losing side, the country was split in many pieces including splitting along the Danube at Komaron. The area to the north became the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia, eventually split into Czech Republic, sometimes referred to as Czechia, and Slovakia. We are asl close to the Slovak-Hungarian border today as we can be. In the US, Komarno is largely known as the birthplace of comedy producer and writer Ivan Reitman.

We're here to drink a curious white grape, Pinot Blanc. Why curious? Genetically, it's the same grape as Pinot Noir. But, Pinot Noir is a highly unstable species and while it is a black grape producing famous red wines, it often mutates on the spot -- a point mutation. The offshoots can be grey producing Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italian-speaking countries) or nearly white producing Pinot Blanc. It's really quite strange in that it may be a single cane that mutates. That mutation's cuttings are then planted to cultivate the "new" white wine grapes.

Pinot Blanc has gained somewhat of a following in California and Oregon, but it's really a central European grape. In particular, we find it in the Alsatian region of France, Luxembourg, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia where we are today. We chose Slovakia because while most of the rest of those countries, save Luxembourg, do a reasonable amount of wine exporting, this is likely our only way to sample Slovak wine.

Pinot Blanc is a refreshing wine. Quite light in color, in the Alsace, it's made into a fuller-bodied wine, but here it is much more light-bodied. It's dry, but not in the vein of Sauvignon Blanc, fruity, and has medium acidity.

Initially, on the nose, we might mistake our Pinot Gris for Riesling due to the notable peach aroma. But, it's nuttier than Riesling, particularly emanating almond oil.

On the palate, we get ripe pear and peach, some citrus zest, predominantly lemon, as well as local almonds. Additionally, however, and this may be the most notable differentiator, there are strong gravelly notes in most Pinot Blanc.

Pair your Pinot Blanc with light foods. Try salads, light, soft cheeses, and poached fish served in a light cream sauce.