Despite the endless number of grape varieties out there, most wine professionals will agree that Pinot Noir is as good as it gets. Producing mouthwatering wines worldwide, Pinot Noir has conquered the hearts of wine drinkers. Yet regardless of our love for the grape, many questions still remain. We’re breaking down eight of the questions you’ve always had about Pinot Noir once and for all.
What is Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir is a red grape variety that grows in various regions all over the world, producing extremely terroir-driven wines.
What does Pinot Noir look like?
Pinot Noir is a red grape variety with very thin skins. When ripe, the berries are packed tightly together within the cluster. The name of the grape comes from the French words Pinot and Noir, meaning pine and black, due to the fact that a ripe cluster of Pinot Noir looks like a black pine cone.
Where is Pinot Noir From?
Pinot Noir comes from the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, France.
Where does Pinot Noir grow?
Pinot Noir is one of the most terroir-driven varieties out there, meaning it highly reflects the soil and climates of the region from which it comes. Pinot Noir can be found in essentially every wine- producing country, though its flavor profile will be extremely variant from region to region.
What are the most renowned regions for Pinot Noir?
Burgundy is considered the crown jewel for Pinot Noir, specifically in the Côte de Nuits region of the Côte d’Or. Other notable regions for Pinot Noir are Champagne, the Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Central Coast of California, and the Marlborough and Martinborough appellations of New Zealand.
How is Pinot Noir in Champagne if it’s a red grape?
Like most other red grape varieties, despite the skin being dark, the juice within the Pinot Noir grape is actually colorless.
What does Pinot Noir taste like?
Pinot Noir’s flavor profile can range across the spectrum, depending on where it comes from. Examples from Burgundy and Oregon tend to be lighter-bodied, with flavors of cherry, mushroom, and earth. Pinot Noir from California will generally be medium-bodied with riper red fruit flavors.
How much does Pinot Noir cost?
Pinot Noir can be found in every price bracket, ranging from less than $10 per bottle to tens of thousands of dollars per bottle. In fact, Pinot Noir produced by Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) in Burgundy is the most expensive wine in the world!
