World Famous Grapes
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir Aromas
Cherries and wild berries are the most common Pinot Noir aromas, with hints of herbs, flowers, mushroom, and soil.
 Red Cherry |
 Strawberry |
 Raspberry |
 Cranberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Blueberry |
 Blackberry |
 Black Currant |
 Herbs |
 Spices |
 Mushroom |
 Violet |
Oaked wines will have added notes of vanilla, spices, chocolate, and tobacco.
 Vanilla |
 Cinnamon |
 Chocolate |
 Tobacco |
Pinot Noir Profile
Pinot Noir is famous for a silky mouth feel, low tannins, lovely fruit aromas, and good acidity:
| BODY: | Light |
| TANNINS: | Low |
| FRUIT: | Medium - High |
| ACIDITY: | High |
| ALCOHOL: | 12-13% |
 |
Serving temperature: 14-15°C (57-59°F) Cru 15-16°C (59-61°F) |
Pinot Noir Food Pairing
Pinot Noir is very food friendly and can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, especially grilled or roasted white meat:
 Antipasti |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Soups |
 Pasta |
Mushroom |
 Risotto |
 Truffle |
 Pizza |
 Sandwitch |
 Hamburger |
 Chili |
 Goose |
 Duck |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
Excellent Pairings
Charcuterie. Salmon. Tuna.
Roasted Mushrooms. Mushroom Risotto.
Soups. Beef Burgundy.
Grilled. Roasted White Meat.
Poultry. Duck. Goose. Rabbit.
Grilled Pork. Ham. Bacon.
Spices
Basil. Cilantro. Coriander. Mint.
Cheeses
Comté. Brie. Camembert. Jarlsberg. Goat.
The Ideal Glass for Pinot Noir
|
Pick a Burgundy Glass for swirling & releasing the wine aromas. The shape of the glass captures and directs the delicate aromas to your nose and leads the wine to the tip of your tongue for a better reception of the tastes. The Burgundy glass was designed for the delicate and aromatic red wine Bourgogne Rouge, made from Pinot Noir grapes in Bougogne (Burgundy). |
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About Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir originates from Burgundy in France where it has become known as Red Burgundy, just like Chardonnay has become known as White Burgundy.
- Red Burgundy = Pinot Noir
- White Burgundy = Chardonnay
The name Pinot (Pine) was given to this grape family, because the cluster looks like a pine:
- Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero)
- Pinot Blanc (Pinot Bianco)
- Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)
Pinot Noir thrives in cooler regions all over the world, like in Burgundy with "Cool Climate" and "Slow Ripening".
Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape and, as a consequence, the color of the wine is
light red. Thin skin means also low tannins.
Pinot Noir synonyms: Pinot Nero. Pinot Negro. Spätburgunder. Blauburgunder.
Pinot Noir is a "difficult" grape. It grows in thick clusters, which makes it vulnerable to rot, mildew and other diseases.
Pinot Noir in France
The most famous (and expensive) Pinot Noir wines in the world come from Burgundy in France.
The top regions are Côte d´Or (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune) in North Burgundy.
The reason back this success is the unique terroir (limestone) and climate which gives a wide palette of sensory experience. This is also the reason why you seldom find the name of the grape variety (Pinot Noir) on the label, but only the place of production.
Pinot Noir in France
The most famous (and expensive) Pinot Noir wines in the world come from Burgundy in France.
The top regions are Côte d´Or (Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune) in North Burgundy.
The reason back this success is the unique terroir (limestone) and climate which gives a wide palette of sensory experience. This is also the reason why you seldom find the name of the grape variety (Pinot Noir) on the label, but only the place of production.
Pinot Noir in USA
The cold climates of Oregon and North California are perfect for Pinot Noir.
High Quality areas / regions:
Willamette Valley (Oregon)
Sonoma Coast (California north coast)
Los Carneros (California Sonoma and Napa)
Santa Barbara County (California central coast)
Oregon AVAs
| AVA | Location |
|---|---|
| Willamette Valley | From Portland to Eugene |
| Chehalem Mountains | Willamette Valley |
| Dundee Hils | Willamette Valley |
| Eola-Amity Hills | Willamette Valley |
| McMinnville | Willamette Valley |
| Ribbon Ridge | Willamette Valley |
| Yamhill-Carlton | Willamette Valley |
Map from Willamette Valley Wineries Association.
California AVAs
In general, California is too warm for Pinot Noir, but there are exceptions:
Mendocino County in the northmost CA
Chilled by the Pasific Ocean.
Sonoma Coast in northern CA
Cooled down by the ocean winds.
Los Carneos between Sonoma and Napa
Cooled down by the morning fog from the San Pablo Bay.
Santa Barbara County on the central coast
Cooled down by sea breezes from both south and west.
| AVA | Location |
|---|---|
| Anderson Valley | Mendocino County |
| Sonoma Coast | Sonoma County |
| Russian River Valley | Sonoma County |
| Los Carneros | Sonoma and Napa County |
| Santa Cruz Mountains | Santa Cruz County |
| Santa Lucia Highlands | Monterey County |
| Santa Rita Hills | Santa Barbara County |
Other US Regions
| AVA | State |
|---|---|
| Columbia Valley | Washington |
| Walla Walla Valley | Washington |
| Finger Lakes (Keuka,Seneca,Canandaigua,Cayuga) | New York |
| Hudson River Region | New York |
Blauburgunder in Austria
Most of the Austrian Blauburgunder is producd in Burgenland and in Lower Austria.
Blauburgunder wines are similar in character to Pinot Noir wines from Burgundy.
If aged, French barrels (barriques) are most often used.
Austrian Pinot Noir is a lot of quality for the money. Try it with a schnitzel!
Pinot Nero in Italy
Pinot Noir thrives well in the cold climates of Northern Italy.
High Quality areas / regions:
Trentino
Alto Adige
Veneto
Friuli
Franciacorta
Pinot Noir also plays a main role in the italian sparkling wine Franciacorta.
Pinot Noir was first cultivated in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) as "Bourgoigne Noir" around 1830. Later it was called "Blauburgunder" like in Austria.
Today both Pinot Nero and Pinot Noir are common names.
Spätburgunder in Germany
In Germany, Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) is the most widely planted red grape.
The German climate is good for producing Pinot Noir.
Spätburgunder wines are similar in character to Pinot Noir wines from Burgundy.
If aged, French barrels (barriques) are most often used.
High Quality areas / regions / regions are Baden, Pfalz and Ahr.
In Germany there is also a smaller, early ripening, variety called Frühburgunder ("Early Burgundian") which is grown in Rheinhessen and Ahr.
Pinot Noir in Switzerland
High Quality areas / regions:
Graubünden
Valais
Schaffhausen
In Switzerland, Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red grape.
Pinor Noir trives well in the cooler climates of Switzerland.
Pinot Noir in New Zealand
High Quality areas / regions:
Martinborough (North Island)
Central Otago (South Island)
Marlborough (South Island)
Pinot Noir is New Zealand's second largest grape variety (after Sauvingnon Blanc).
Some of New Zealand’s very best Pinot Noir wines are produced in Central Otago.
Other High Quality areas / regions / regions are Marlborough and Martinborough.
Mentionable regions are also Canterbury, Nelson, and Waiarapa.
Pinot Noir in Chile
Pinor Noir trives well in the cooler climates of Chile. The coastal regions of Chile can deliver some of the best values in the world.
High Quality areas / regions:
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio
Bio Bio
Chilean Pinot Noir wines are considered to be very good value for money.
Chilean Pinot Noir grows between the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains. This means hot days with little rain, combined with cold nights and foggy mornings. The cooling mountain breezes create high quality Pinot Noir with perfect acidity.
The mountain soil is composed of draining sand and mineral-intense granite.
Chilean Pinot Noir wines are often aged for about 12 months in French oak. This creates medium-body, bright fruit, well balanced, Burgundian style Pinot wines.
Pinot Noir in Australia
High Quality areas / regions:
Adelaide Hills (South Australia)
Mornington Peninsula (Victoria)
Yarra Valley (Victoria)
Tasmania
In general, Australia is too warm for producing a well balanced Pinot Noir, but some areas in Victoria (with cooling winds from the Southern Ocean) have proven well.
Pinot Noir thrives best in the South-Eastern's cool climat, and some wines from Yarra Valley are considered rivals to of Burgundy, with vibrant plum and cherry notes balanced by fine tannins.
Pinot Noir in Argentina
Pinor Noir trives in the cooler climates of Argentina.
High Quality areas / regions:
Patagonia
Rio Negro
Mendoza
Dry-cool climate keeps this disease-prone grape healthy. Longer growing season, desert soil, temperature dropping in the night (ensuring good acidity) are the keys of its success.
Patagonian Pinot Noir grapes were originally planted to supply the bubble industry of Mendoza, where Moet Chandon is a big player.
Pinot Noir in South Africa
High Quality areas / regions:
Walker Bay
Elgin
In South Africa, Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red grape.
Pinor Noir trives well in the cooler climates of South Africa.
Most of the production is focused on the cool south coast.
Pinor Noir Vinification
Pinot Noir can be vinified into red, rosé and sparkling wines.
Pinot Noir the most planted grape in the Champagne region in France, where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the major ingredients in many Champagne wines, especially in Blanc de Noir which means white (wine) made from 100% black (grapes).
Champagne producers press the skin off the grapes right away to not retain color and tannins. By quickly separating the skins from the juice you prevent the black pigment to be transferred to the wine.
Some producers make Pinot Noir with a technique called "Whole Cluster Fermentation", where the entire grape bunch, including the stems, goes into the fermentation. This adds extra tannins to the wine.
Pinot Noir DNA
Pinot Noir is believed to be a very old grape. It existed for at least 2000 years.
Probably due to this longevity, Pinot Noir is particularly prone to mutations and there are hundreds of different clones worldwide.
Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero in Italy), Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Précoce (Frühburgunder) and Pinot Gris are mutations of the same "Pinot" variety.
Pinot Noir is the parent of grape varieties such Gamay, Aligoté, Gouais Blanc and Chardonnay.
Pinot Noir Terroir
Pinot Noir is a World Classic. It is one of the most cultivated grapes in the world. and famous for its ability of interpreting the terroir.
Pinot Noir likes the limestone soils of Burgundy.
This limestone originated in the tropical sea that covered Burgundy 150 million years ago. In fact you can still find many shell fossils.
The hills which stretch from Chablis to Mâconnais, while passing the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise, were created and shaped by the formation of the Alps and the glacial periods which followed.
Burgundy’s subsoil is primarily composed of marl and limestone of Jurassic marine origin.
All the red Burgundy Grands Crus are located on the Côte de Nuits, except Corton Grand Cru, the only one which is located on the Côte de Beaune.
In Burgundy, when we talk about "climat", we do not raise our eyes to the sky, we drop them on the ground. (Bernard Pivot, writer).
Climat is a parcel of vineyard, carefully delimited and named, which has a long history and special geological and climatic conditions. Each wine from a "climat" has its taste and its place in the hierarchy of wines (Regional Appellation, Village, Premier Cru, Grand Cru).
The Climats are over 1000 and the most famous are: Chambertin, Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Montrachet, Corton, Musigny.
Clos is a Climat surrounded by walls. In the Middle Ages a "clos" belonged to a monastery or a rich family.