red grape

Pinot Noir

Originally from Burgundy, France

The heartbreaker of the wine world: notoriously difficult to grow but capable of producing wines of breathtaking complexity. Light in colour but profound in aroma. Red fruit, earth, and forest floor in the best examples; pure cherry in the simpler ones.

Pinot Noir is a red grape variety known for producing light-bodied to medium-bodied wines with complex aromas of red berries, earth, and often a savory or floral character. It thrives in cooler climates.

Taste profile

Body3/5

Tannin2/5

Acidity4/5

Sweetness1/5

Famous regions

BurgundyWillamette ValleyCentral OtagoYarra ValleySanta Barbara

Food pairings

SalmonDuck breastMushroom risottoGrilled tuna

Deep dive

Pinot Noir is ancient: possibly one of the oldest cultivated vines. It is genetically unstable (over 1,000 clones exist) and notoriously difficult to grow. Thin skin means less tannin, susceptibility to rot and sunburn.

Aromas & flavours: Red cherry, strawberry, raspberry (young); dried rose petal, forest floor, truffle, beet and leather (aged).

Structure: Low to medium tannin, medium-high acidity, light to medium body, relatively low alcohol (12-14%).

Key regions: Burgundy (the benchmark), Champagne (as base for Blanc de Noirs), New Zealand Marlborough (bright, fruity), Oregon Willamette Valley (earthy, elegant), Santa Barbara California (silky).

Why it's special: Almost transparent in the glass, yet capable of conveying terroir with extraordinary precision.

Notable Pinot Noir wines

Privat Brut Nature Rosé

Sparkling Rosé

Alta Alella · Cava

Desiderius

Cap Classique Sparkling Wine

Pongrácz · Western Cape

Pinot Noir Monterey

Red Wine

La Crema · Monterey, California

Drink 2024–2028

Pinot Noir

Red Wine

Elouan · Oregon

Drink 2023–2026

Bicicleta Reserva

Red Wine

Cono Sur · 2023 · Central Valley

Drink 2024–2026

Impérial Brut

Sparkling

Moët & Chandon · NV · Champagne

Spätburgunder Trocken

Red Wine

Geil · 2020 · Rheinhessen

Gravel Road, Pinot Noir

Red Wine

Roco · Willamette Valley

Drink 2024–2030

Brut Royal

Sparkling Wine

Pommery · Champagne

90 Wine Spectator

Similar grapes

Grenache

Also light in colour and tannin, but warmer and more fruit-forward. Less complexity but more approachable.

Gamay

The Beaujolais grape. Similar weight and red fruit character, more explicitly juicy.

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