A Wine of Almost The Same Name—

Is not the same in the case of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio.

Yes, Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same in the sense that they’re made from the same grape. But the Pinot Gris grape, which is from the Alsace region of France is typically rich and sweet, with spicy tropical fruit aromas.

Pinot Grigio is from northeastern Italy and is has a lighter, crisp and clean taste with citrus flavors. Basically, the name vintners use on their labels is mostly a stylistic decision (as with naming a wine Syrah or Shiraz when it comes from neither France nor Australia), so they will select the name that best fits the style they're going for, Alsatian or Italian.