Faux Pinot Grigio?

[Auburnwine]

I know very little about whites (yes, one of my MANY character flaws).

Laying aside ethics, I need your wisdom on a question. I've been asked to bring an Italian Pinot Grigio to a blind tasting this weekend. Since I do not have one in the cellar -- and since potential pickings are rather slim in small-town Alabama -- I wonder what might be a reasonable substitute.

There is some small hope that I might find a Northwestern pinot gris (or maybe an Alsatian), but would such a creature be a suitable stylistic substitute for an Italian pinot grigio?

If worse comes to worse, would something like a slightly fruity riesling be terribly far afield? Or a blend like Evolution #9?

[Auburnwine]

Aha, he said replying to his own question, I've learned something about Pinot Grigio. I think that it was a textbook Pinot Gris tasting.

I brought a Trimbach Pinot Gris 97 Reserve. This wine from Alsace was vastly different from the Oregon, Austrian, and Italian Pinots that my friends brought. It had a great deal more substance to it, and while some folks liked it, I enjoyed the clean crispness of the other three, especially as wines to go with foods.

We also drank Chiantis, ranging from the $6.99 Placido to a $38 WS 93-rated. The latter was a lovely wine, but there was surprisingly little difference among the four wines.

[wondersofwine]

Looks like you learned a lot!