September 26, 2022

Grape Of The Week: Pinot Noir

One of the oldest grapes in the world, Pinot Noir has been around since the Roman era. Produced in most of the wine regions around the world, Pinot Noir can be made into red, rosé, white, and sparkling wines. With notes of cherry, raspberry, hibiscus, mushroom, and hints of clove, it's easy to see why Pinot Noir is an extremely popular light-bodied red wine. Pinot Noir can be paired with an abundance of foods including roasted salmon, casseroles, and roasted duck.

France produces most of the world’s Pinot Noir, with more than 25,000 hectares dedicated to the grape, especially in Burgundy, Champagne, and Alsace. Although Burgundy Pinot Noir is seen as the blueprint, there are various interesting styles of Pinot Noir that can be found in places like Germany, California, and even in Chile. Fantastic when aged, French Pinot Noirs tend to be earthy and floral, with notes of cherry, rose petal, and potting soil. In contrast, the wines of California tend to be lush and fruity, with added notes of allspice and vanilla. Known as Spätburgunder in German, they are the third largest producer of elegant and velvety Pinot Noir wines that have distinct notes of almond and blackberries.

Explore all things Pinot Noir: