International Pinot Day

Pinot Noir is perhaps the most highly prized wine variety in the world. It’s certainly one of the most romanticized and written about.

Hailing from Burgundy in France, Pinot Noir, the grape has a thin-skin, soft tannins and aromatics that make it particularly unique.

There’s an old Burgundian saying: “Get the bouquet right and the palate will look after itself.”

To make great Pinot is often considered the pinnacle of winemaking. It’s an incredibly difficult grape to grow and requires patience, skill and the correct soil and growing conditions. Pinot Noir tends to ripen early, so very warm regions which accelerate ripening don’t allow time for the grapes to develop interesting flavours.

People often think of Pinot as a delicate wine, and that’s true to a certain point. It is a light red wine, not a robust, tannic sort, and the best Pinots have marvelous layers of aromas and flavours that seem to go on and on.

But don’t let its delicacy fool you, because Pinot Noir is a powerhouse with food. It has the kind of acidity that is so important to versatility with food. Generally speaking bigger Pinot Noir’s can handle richer dishes like lamb, roast meats and slow braises. Lighter Pinot Noir is a classic pairing with mushroom risotto and a good old fashioned roast chook.

It’s a temperamental. grape that can break a winemakers heart but when made well it’s understandable why it’s such a popular wine variety.