Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a dry, light to medium-bodied red best known from Burgundy in France, with brilliant examples now made around the world. Expect cherry, raspberry and strawberry with gentle spice and earthy flavours. Silky rather than heavy, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, duck, pork, salmon, mushroom dishes and truffle pasta.

Taste:

Elegant, silky and proof that red wine doesn't need to be huge to be interesting.

Pinot Noir is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with bright acidity, soft tannins and plenty of fresh red fruit. Expect red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry, often joined by violet, herbs, gentle spice and earthy flavours.

As Pinot Noir ages, those bright fruit flavours can develop into mushroom, forest floor, dried herbs and savoury spice. Oak-aged versions may also bring subtle vanilla, toast or smoke.

Where it's grown makes a big difference too. Cooler regions tend to produce lighter, fresher and more delicate wines, while warmer climates can bring riper cherry, darker fruit and a little more body.

Basically, Pinot Noir has range – and a passport full of stamps.

Food Pairings:

Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile red wines when food gets involved.

Try it with roast chicken, grilled chicken, duck breast, crispy duck, roast pork, pork chops, glazed ham or sausages.

It's also a brilliant red for fish. Grilled salmon, roast salmon and seared tuna all work particularly well thanks to Pinot Noir's lighter body and fresh acidity.

Mushroom dishes are another classic match, including mushroom risotto, creamy mushroom pasta, mushroom stroganoff, mushroom pie and truffle pasta.

For something more casual, try it with mushroom pizza, prosciutto pizza, Margherita pizza, charcuterie or pâté.

Pinot Noir also works beautifully with Brie, Camembert, Gruyère and Comté.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Pinot Noir, Spätburgunder is essential exploring – it's simply the German name for the same grape and can offer some beautifully fresh, elegant expressions.

For Burgundy itself, Beaune is a great place to start. Volnay takes Pinot Noir in a particularly silky, fragrant direction, while Pommard brings more body and structure.

If it's Pinot Noir's juicy fruit and lighter body you love most, Gamay and Zweigelt should also be on your list.

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More About Pinot Noir:

Pinot Noir's spiritual home is Burgundy in eastern France, where the grape is behind some of the world's most famous – and eye-wateringly expensive – red wines.

Today it's grown much further afield, with important regions including Germany, New Zealand, the United States, Australia and Chile.

Pinot Noir has thin skins and can be notoriously difficult to grow, which has earned it a reputation for being a slightly demanding member of the grape family. When everything goes right, though, it can produce incredibly fragrant, elegant and complex wines.

It's also one of the key grapes used to make Champagne and other traditional-method sparkling wines.

Delicate, difficult and expensive when it's at its best. Pinot Noir really has committed to the diva bit.