All About The Pinot Noir Grape
23 Nov 2018
Pinot Noir is a very popular grape variety, which is grown globally, but well known for its growth in Burgundy. This grape is ranked at being one of the oldest grape varieties in the world! The style is normally raspberries, cherries and strawberries, with some notes of violets and truffles. There is thought to be over 1000 different mutations of the Pinot Noir grape, including the Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grapes.
History
Pinot Noir is thought to have been around in the Roman times, with the rest of the Pinot family and grown in Burgundy since 1 A.D after it was said to have been brought over to France from their invasions of Lombardy and Italy. In Burgundy today, their 'Slopes of Gold' carry approximately a 30 mile stretch of the Pinot family, with usage spread across regions such as Monthelie and Gevrey Chambertin (where examples are aged in french oak barrels to produce stunning vintages).
In France, outside Burgundy, Pinot Noir is also used in Alsace and in the Loire Valley where wines produced are normally on the lighter side.
The use of Pinot Noir grape is becoming more popular in the Languedoc region and after an unconvincing period, several producers are now offering exciting Pinot Noir. Some of our top Pinot Noir wine producers are located in the Languedoc Minervois, which includes Pierre Cros, Château de Guery and Domaine Villepeyroux Forest.
Pinot Noir in Wine Making
Pinot Noir is most commonly used in the U.S and in France, with Burgundy being the leading region for Pinot Noir wine production. The Pinot Noir grape is also commonly used in the production of Champagne and some other sparkling wines.
Pinot Noir wines are very versatile to food pairings, because of the flavours in the wines. However, the characteristics of the wine can vary hugely, depending on terroir and wine making techniques. Some of the best Pinot Noir wines generally age well, with the perfect serving temperature around 13 degrees celsius for the perfect combination of flavours.
