Pinot Noir
/pee-no nwahr/Pinot Noir is Burgundy's great gift to the wine world — light in colour yet profound in flavour, haunting in its fragrance and its ability to express terroir. It is notoriously difficult to grow, requiring cool, limestone-rich soils and careful viticulture to achieve its characteristic silky elegance. From the hallowed Grand Cru vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin to the cool slopes of Oregon and Central Otago, Pinot Noir rewards patience with extraordinary complexity.
Grape profile
Character & style
| Trait | Character |
|---|---|
| Body | light |
| Acidity | high |
| Tannins | low |
| Sweetness | dry |
| Alcohol tendency | low |
| Origin | Burgundy, France |
| Common flavours | red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, cola, spice, earth |
| Aromas | red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, rose, mushroom, forest floor, earthy |
Pairing
Best food pairings
- Duck
- salmon
- mushroom risotto
- soft cheeses
- roast chicken
- charcuterie
Where it thrives
Key regions for Pinot Noir
France, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Italy
Burgundy
Burgundy is the spiritual home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, where a precise hierarchy of Grand Cru, Premier C…
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is Oregon's premier region and the New World's most faithful expression of Burgundian Pi…
Central Otago
Central Otago, the world's most southerly wine region, produces internationally acclaimed, intensely flavoured…
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley, Victoria's first wine region, makes elegant cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, refined …
Mornington Peninsula
A cool, maritime region producing some of Australia's finest, most delicate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in bouti…