Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is an ancient and revered Vitis vinifera red wine grape from the Burgundy region of France, one of the oldest cultivated grape varieties and a genetic parent of many others. It produces small, tightly packed clusters of thin-skinned blue-black berries and ripens early. Notoriously difficult to grow, it demands cool climates, careful site selection, and attentive canopy management; its thin skins and tight clusters make it susceptible to rot and disease. When grown well it yields elegant, aromatic, silky red wines with red-fruit and earthy character, and it is also a key grape in Champagne. It is planted in Burgundy, Oregon, cooler parts of California, New Zealand, and Germany. Growers accept its finicky nature for the exceptional wine quality it can deliver.