Pinot Noir

Species: Vitis Vinifera
Parentage: Unknown
Aliases: Blauburgunder, Spatburgunder, Rulanske modre
Grape Color: Black
Regions:  Chiefly associated with France’s Burgundy region. Also prevalent in Champagne, France; California; New Zealand


“With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Vanity Fair, once described of Pinot Noir. Also christening it as a fickle mistress, a minx, and as sex in a glass, wine critics have had no hesitation in oft comparing Pinot Noir to a woman.

With many qualities lending themselves to this parallel, the best is likely that the Pinor Noir grape is difficult. Difficult to cultivate. Difficult to transform into wine. Difficult to pinpoint in taste.

The Pinot Noir grape is grown in tightly clustered dark purple, pine-cone shaped bunches, the resemblance from which it gets its name. Considered to produce the finest wines in the world, its fame as a Noble grape goes hand in hand with France’s Burgundy wine region.

Some giveaway qualities of the Pinot Noir are its thin skin, early ripening during growing season, and summer-fruit aromas such as those of strawberries and red cherries. You will notice that wines made of this varietal tend to have complex aromas, as well a smooth, silky texture. Pinot Noir also has light tannins and a structure that holds its own, giving it the ability to be paired well with many foods.  However, because of its thin skin, the firsthand challenge for vintners lies in drawing color and flavor from these skins without extracting large amounts of tannin.

Pinot Noir tend to grow best in cool-climate regions, where while their youthful flavors hint of red berries, their more mature wines develop earthier flavors ranging from forest floor to violets to ripe tomatoes. This broad range of flavors from fruits to flowers to even licorice is what tends to confuse even the most experienced tasters.

The roots of Pinot Noir are no less complex than the grape itself. During first century A.D. this varietal was known to the Ancient Romans as Helvanacia Minor, which they turned into wine during their conquest of France’s Burgundy region, where it too was wildly popular. For hundreds of years in the Burgundy region, the hilly region where Pinot Noir was cultivated was known as Côte d'Or -- “The Slope of Gold.”

This red wine grape produces wines closer to a garnet color, unlike many red wines. It does not share the longevity of many other varietals, as it reaches its peak approximately 5-8 years past vintage. Despite the fact that its character can be hard to pinpoint, Pinot Noir is praised by vintners for striking the perfect balance of fruit, alcohol, acidity, and tannin in its wines.