Pinot Noir

Originating in France, Pinot Noir's inspiration hails from red Burgundy. A light skinned, aromatic grape, the history of Pinot Noir dates back to the noble Pinot family during the Roman era. Pinot Noir grapes were being cultivated in the Burgundy region of France when the Romans invaded Gaul in the first century A.D.

France has always held the world's largest planting of Pinot Noir vines but they have also found homes in other countries such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Chile, USA, South Africa and, of course Australia & New Zealand. Notably in Australia the regions of the Yarra Valley, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, Beechworth, Whitlands, South Gippsland, Sunbury and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Adelaide Hills in South Australia and Tasmania have seen the production of world class Pinots, as have the areas of Canterbury, Waipara, Martinborough, Wairarapa, Central Otago in New Zealand.

A fickle grape, Pinot Noir requires optimum growing conditions, demanding warm days consistently supported by cool evenings. Due to the stringent growing requirements for Pinot Noir, it is produced in much smaller quantities than other popular red wines and is usually a little more expensive.

The flavours, textures and impressions that Pinot Noir produces is tremendously broad, but tends to be of light to medium body with a variety of complex aromas reminiscent of forest floor fruit, black cherry, raspberry or currant.

In addition to still red wine, Pinot Noir grapes are planted in most of the worlds wine growing regions for the production of sparkling wine, rosé still wines and even the white wine Vin Gris.