Pinot Noir: Everything You Want To Learn
Posted on August 13 2021
What Is Pinot Noir Wine?
Pinot Noir wine is a marvel. This versatile crimson beauty is known for its fruity flavor, enticing smell, and long, silky finish all over the world. Furthermore, this is one of the several red wine grapes which can be used in creating white wines, rose wines, and even sparkling wines like champagne. Since it is likely the most romanticized red wine, no other grape elicits the same level of emotion and adoration among wine connoisseurs.
Pinot Noir’s Character
The Pinot Noir has a light color, sometimes even a pale color, but it can darken in warmer climates. Don't be deceived by the color, though. Aromas in a fine Pinot Noir are powerful and complex. It rarely produces powerful wines, especially in chilly areas like Burgundy. There should always be more elegance than force in a red Burgundy.
A Pinot Noir normally has a high acidity level but low tannin content. Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and violet smells are present. Moreover, there are hints of spices and coffee on occasion, but this is usually due to the oak ageing rather than the grape. Also, the wine can develop a seductive flavor of forest floor and fall foliage, as well as a silky finish as it ages.
That isn't to suggest that Pinot Noir can't thrive in warm climates with fertile soils, but it definitely shouldn't. This is why certain Pinot Noir wines, especially those from the mass market, have a lot of body and alcohol and have less distinct characteristics.
Pinot Noir's Origins
Pinot Noir originated in France's Burgundy valley, and it was cultivated by the monks for more than a century ago. This makes it among the country's oldest wine grapes. Furthermore, it is now grown throughout the world, particularly in cooler climates.
Why Is It Difficult To Make Pinot Noir?
Due to its popularity, Pinot Noir is a tough crop to grow. Like that other immensely prominent red wine grape variety that can grow in practically any climate, Moreover, Pinot Noir is outrageously tough. With thin skin, vulnerability to wind and frost, and thick pine cone-shaped clusters, it is also a high-maintenance grape despite being one of the world's most widely known wines.
Growing Regions For Pinot Noir Around The World
Pinot Noir's popularity has skyrocketed in the United States. With 62,000 acres under cultivation, the grape is now the third most widely planted variety in the country (25,000 ha). Of course, California has the majority of the plantings and produces some wonderful wines from the grapes. However, in recent years, Oregon has earned the most notice for its Pinot Noir.
Furthermore, Pinot Noir is Germany's most widely grown red grape. Spätburgunder is the local term for it. Also, although this country is better known for white wines, Germany is the third world's largest producer of Pinot Noir, trailing after France and the United States.
In New Zealand, Pinot noir is the most extensively planted red grape. Pinot Noir is farmed across the country, although the most well-known wines originate from Central Otago on the South Island. Ferraud, a Frenchman who arrived in 1863 to look for gold, planted vines that are thought to be Pinot Noir since he called his wine "Burgundy."
On the other hand, in Chile, the popularity of Pinot Noir is growing. They also have some superb Pinot Noir in cooler places like Casablanca, San Antonio, and Bio Bio. Also, warm days in Casablanca are followed by chilly nights, resulting in a wine with superb acidity and freshness.
