The Complete Guide to Pinot Noir

The Heartbreak Grape

Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow, painfully sensitive to climate, and unforgiving of mistakes. But when everything comes together, it produces wines of transcendent beauty no other grape can match.

What Makes Pinot Noir Unique

• Thin skins: Lighter color, less tannin than thick-skinned varieties
• Early ripening: Susceptible to frost and rot
• Genetically unstable: Hundreds of clones with different characteristics
• Site-sensitive: Shows terroir more transparently than almost any other grape

In the Glass

Pale to medium ruby, translucent. Extraordinarily complex aromatics. Silky texture, medium body, bright acidity, fine tannins. The best have a finish that seems to go on forever.

Where Pinot Noir Excels

Burgundy, France

The spiritual home. Earth, red fruit, minerality, and an ethereal quality that is unmistakable. From $15 Bourgogne Rouge to tens of thousands for Grand Cru DRC.

Oregon (Willamette Valley)

The New World's most exciting Pinot region. Cool maritime climate, volcanic soils. Red fruit, baking spice, subtle earth. Key sub-regions: Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Ribbon Ridge.

New Zealand (Central Otago)

The world's southernmost wine region. Intensely aromatic with dark cherry, thyme, and mineral character.

California

Best from cooler coastal sites: Sonoma Coast (elegant, complex), Santa Rita Hills (intense, structured), Anderson Valley (Burgundian restraint).

Germany

Spätburgunder has improved dramatically, rivaling Burgundy in elegance.

Food Pairing

Arguably the most food-friendly red wine:

• Classic: Roast duck, mushroom risotto, beef bourguignon
• Cheese: Gruyère, Brie, Comté, Époisses
• Seafood: One of few reds that pairs beautifully with salmon and tuna
• Thanksgiving: The ultimate holiday wine

Buying Guide

Under $20: Bourgogne Rouge (Faiveley, Rapet); Meiomi (California); Spy Valley (NZ)

$20-$50: Village Burgundy; Willamette Valley (Adelsheim, Ponzi); Central Otago (Felton Road)

$50+: Premier and Grand Cru Burgundy; Top Oregon (Domaine Drouhin); Premium Sonoma Coast (Littorai)

Pinot Noir rewards attention and sensitivity more than any other grape. It is a living conversation between the land and the glass.