Pinot Noir (USA)
The cold climates of Oregon and North California are perfect for 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 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 |