Wine Grape: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red wine grape, most famous in Burgundy. The word 'pinot' probably comes from 'pine' or 'pin' in French, and refers to the cone shape of the grape bunches. Pinot Noir was probably cultivated by the Gauls when their lands were conquered by the Romans. With a history of some 2000 years, it comes as no surprise that Pinot Noir has parented at least 16 popular wine grape varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gamay Noir, Aligoté, and Muscadet. Pinot Noir ripens relatively early and makes a wide variety of wines, from Champagne and other sparklers to sumptuous reds from Burgundy and many parts of the world.
Synonyms
Also known as Borgogna Nero, Blauburgunder, Burgunder Blauer, Franc Noirien, Franc Pineau, Noir de Franconier, Noirien, Pineau de Bourgogne, Pineau Noir, Pineau, Pinot Fin, Pinot Nero, Pinot Tinto, Plant à Bon Vin, Plant Fin, Spätburgunder
Where
France: Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne, Eastern France, Jura, Loire, Rhône, Savoy
Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto
USA: California, New York, Oregon, Washington
Also: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland
Principal Wines
France: Alsace: Alsace-Pinot Noir AOC, Crémant-d'Alsace AOC; Burgundy: Aloxe-Corton AOC, Auxey-Duresses AOC, Beaune AOC, Blagny AOC, Bonnes-Mares AOC, Bourgogne AOC, Bourgogne-Côte-Chalonnaise AOC, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune AOC, Bourgogne-Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits AOC, Bourgogne-Passetougrain AOC, Chambertin AOC, Chambertin-Clos-de-Bèze AOC, Chambolee-Musigny AOC, Chapelle-Chambertin AOC, Charmes-Chambertin AOC, Chassagne-Montrachet AOC, Chorey-lès-Beaune AOC, Clos-de-la-Roche AOC, Clos-des-Lambray AOC, Clos-de-Tart AOC, Clos-de-Vougeot AOC, Clos-Saint-Denis AOC, Corton AOC, Côte-de-Beaune AOC, Côte-de-Nuits-Villages AOC, Crémant-de-Bourgogne AOC, Echézeaux AOC, Fixin AOC, Gevrey-Chambertin AOC, Givry AOC, La Grande-Rue AOC, Grands-Echézeaux AOC, Griotte-Chambertin AOC, Irancy AOC, Ladoix AOC, Latricières-Chambertin AOC, Mâcon AOC, Maranges AOC, Marsannay AOC, Mazis-Chambertin AOC, Mazoyères-Chambertin AOC, Mercurey AOC, Meursault AOC, Monthélie AOC, Morey-Saint-Denis AOC, Musigny AOC, Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC, Pernand-Vergelesses AOC, Pommard AOC, Puligny-Montrachet AOC, Richebourg AOC, La Romanée AOC, Romanée-Conti AOC, Romanée-Saint-Vivant AOC, Ruchottes-Chambertin AOC, Rully AOC, Saint-Aubin AOC, Saint-Romain AOC, Santenay AOC, Savigny-lès-Beaune AOC, La Tâche AOC, Volnay AOC, Vosne-Romanée AOC, Vougeot AOC; Champagne: Champagne AOC, Coteaux-Champenois AOC, Rosé-des-Riceys AOC; Eastern France: Côtes-de-Toul AOC; Jura: Arbois AOC, Côtes-du-Jura AOC, Crémant-du-Jura AOC, Macvin-du-Jura AOC; Loire Valley: Cheverny AOC, Coteaux-du-Giennois AOC, Coteaux-du-Vendômois AOC, Crémant-de-Loire AOC, Menetou-Salon AOC, Reuilly AOC, Sancerre AOC, Touraine-Noble-Joué AOC, Valençay AOC; Rhône: Châtillon-en-Diois AOC; Savoy: Vin-de-Savoie AOC
Italy: Emilia-Romagna: Colli Piacentini DOC, Colli di Parma; Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC, Collio Goriziano or Collio DOC, Friuli-Isonzo or Isonzo del Friuli DOC, Friuli-Latisana DOC, Friuli-Grave DOC; Lombardy: Franciacorta DOC, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, Garda DOC, Oltrepò Pavese DOC; Piedmont: Piedmont DOC; Trentino-Alto Adige: Trento DOC, Trentino DOC, Alto Adige or Dell'Alto Adige/Südtirol or Südtiroler DOC; Veneto: Breganze DOC, Vicenza DOC, Piave or Vini del Piave DOC
Characteristics
Color: Ruby red that tends to lighten with age
Nose: Fruity (cherry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry), Animal (leather, game), Vegetal (mushroom), Mineral
Palate: Generally medium body and moderate tannins.
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