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Encyclopedia > Pinot Noir
Pinot noir
Pinot noir
Pinot noir grapes at Chehalem Ridgecrest Vineyard, Newberg, Oregon
Species: Vitis vinifera
Also called: (see list of synonyms)
Origin: Flag of France Burgundy, France
Notable regions: (see major regions)

Pinot noir ('pi no nwar) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines produced predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the french words for "pine" and "black" alluding to the varietals' tightly clustered dark purple pine cone shaped bunches of fruit. Image File history File links Chehalem_pinot_noir_grapes. ... Newberg is a city located in Yamhill County, Oregon. ... Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ... Pinot noir is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Coat of arms of the second Duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: ; German: ) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks; the former gave their... This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ...


Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. In De re rustica, Columella described a grape variety in Burgundy in the 1st century A.D. that sounds like Pinot noir.[1] [2] It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine.[3] Coat of arms of the second Duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: ; German: ) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks; the former gave their...

Contents

Description

Pinot noir thrives in France's Burgundy region, particularly on the Côte-d'Or which has produced some of the world's most celebrated wines for centuries.[citation needed] It is also planted in Austria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Moldova, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. The United States has increasingly become a major pinot noir producer, with some of the best regarded coming from the Willamette Valley in Oregon; California's Sonoma County with its Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations, as well as the Central Coast's Santa Lucia Highlands appellation and the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area in Santa Barbara County; and Martinborough, Waipara, and Central Otago in New Zealand. Coat of arms of the second Duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: ; German: ) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks; the former gave their... For other uses, see Côte dOr (disambiguation). ... The Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley is the region in northwest Oregon in the United States that surrounds the Willamette River as it proceeds northward from its emergence from mountains near Eugene to its confluence with the Columbia River. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Sonoma County is a county located on Californias Pacific coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... The Russian River downstream of Duncans Mills The Russian River rises in the coastal mountain ranges of Mendocino County in Northern California, flows through valleys in Mendocino County and Sonoma County, and empties into the Pacific Ocean at Jenner-by-the-Sea, about 60 miles north of the San... Martinborough is the name of a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. ... ... At latitude 45º south, the Central Otago Wine Region is the most southerly wine producing region in the world. ...


The leaves of Pinot noir are generally smaller than those of Cabernet Sauvignon, but larger than those of Syrah. The grape cluster is small and cylindrical, vaguely shaped like a pine cone. Some viticultural historians believe this shape may have given rise to the name. [2] Pinot noir tends to produce narrow trunks and branches. In the vineyard it is sensitive to light exposure, cropping levels (it must be low yielding), soil types and pruning techniques. In the winery it is sensitive to fermentation methods, yeast strains and is highly reflective of its terroir with different regions producing very different wines. Its thin skin makes it highly susceptible to bunch rot and other fungal diseases. The vines themselves are prone to downy mildew, leaf roll, and fanleaf. These complications have given the grape the reputation of being difficult to grow: Jancis Robinson calls Pinot a "minx of a vine"[2] and André Tchelistcheff declared that "God made cabernet sauvignon whereas the devil made pinot noir."[2] Old vine Cabernet Sauvignon at Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley. ... A cone (in formal botanical usage: strobilus, plural strobili) is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta (conifers) that contains the reproductive structures. ... A grey fungus, Botrytis cinerea or Botrytis, that affects wine grapes. ... Downy mildew refers to any of several types of oomycete that infect plants. ... Jancis Mary Robinson (born in Cumbria on April 22, 1950) is a British wine writer and journalist. ... André Tchelistcheff (December 7, 1901 - April 5, 1994) was Americas most influential post-Prohibition winemaker. ...


However, Pinot wines are among the most popular in the world. Joel Fleischman of Vanity Fair describes Pinot noir as "the most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic."[2] Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon calls pinot "sex in a glass".[2] American actress Demi Moore, on a typical Vanity Fair cover (August, 1991) Vanity Fair is a glossy American glamour magazine monthly that offers a mixture of articles based on sensational exaggerations, jet-set and entertainment-business personalities, politics, and lies. ...


The tremendously broad range of bouquets, flavors, textures and impressions that Pinot noir can produce sometimes confuses tasters. [2] In the broadest terms, the wine tends to be of light to medium body with an aroma reminiscent of black cherry, raspberry or currant. Traditional red Burgundy is famous for its fleshy, 'farmyard' aromas, but changing fashions and new easier-to-grow clones have favoured a lighter, fruitier style. The grape's color when young, often compared to that of garnet, is often much lighter than that of other red wines. However, an emerging style from California and New Zealand highlights a more powerful, fruit forward and darker wine that can approach syrah in depth. Odor receptors on the antennae of a Luna moth An odor is the object of perception of the sense of olfaction. ... For other uses, see Cherry (disambiguation). ... Cultivated raspberries The raspberry (plural, raspberries) is the edible fruit of a number of species of the genus Rubus. ... Binomial name L. The Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a species of Ribes berry native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia. ... Garnet is a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. ...


It is also used in the production of Champagne (usually along with Chardonnay and Pinot meunier) and is planted in most of the world's wine growing regions for use in both still and sparkling wines. Pinot noir grown for dry table wines is generally low-yielding and often difficult to grow well. Pinot noir grown for use in sparkling wines (e.g. Champagne) is generally higher yielding. Champagne is often consumed as part of a celebration Champagne is a sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation of wine to effect carbonation. ... Oak-aged Chardonnay is particularly popular in the United States. ... Pinot Meunier, also known as Schwarzriesling or Müllerrebe, is a variety of black wine grape most frequently used in the production of Champagne. ... In agriculture, crop yield (also known as agricultural output) is a measure of the yield per unit area of land under cultivation. ...


In addition to being used for the production of sparkling and still red wine, Pinot noir is also sometimes used for rosé still wines, and even vin gris white wines. For the song by The Feeling, see Rosé (song). ... Vin gris is white wine made from red grapes, in particular pinot noir. ...


History, mutants and clones

Pinot noir is an ancient variety that may be only 1-2 generations removed from wild vines.[4] Since vines grew wild as far north as Belgium in the days before phylloxera, it is possible that Pinot represents an independent domestication of Vitis vinifera - it certainly looks different from the vines of southern France, which may represent Caucasian stock transported by the ancient Greeks. Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, family Phylloxeridae, superfamily Aphidoidea) is a serious pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. ...


Ferdinand Regner has proposed[5] that Pinot noir is a cross between Pinot meunier (Schwarzriesling) and Traminer, but this work has not been replicated.[2] In fact Pinot meunier appears to be a Pinot noir with a mutation in the epidermal cells which makes the shoot tips hairy and the vine a little smaller.[6] Pinot Meunier, also known as Schwarzriesling or Müllerrebe, is a variety of black wine grape most frequently used in the production of Champagne. ... Savagnin or Savagnin Blanc is a white wine grape variety mostly grown in Jura in France. ...


Pinot gris is a bud sport of Pinot noir, presumably representing a somatic mutation in either the VvMYBA1 or VvMYBA2 genes that control grape colour. Pinot blanc may represent a further mutation of Pinot gris. The DNA profiles of both Pinot gris and blanc are identical to Pinot noir, [7] The other two major Pinots, Pinot moure and Pinot teinturier, are also genetically very similar.[8] Pinot Gris (or Tokay Pinot Gris) is a white wine grape of species Vitis vinifera related to Pinot noir which goes by a lot of other names: Pinot Grigio (Italy) Pinot Beurot (Loire Valley, France) Ruländer (Austria and Germany, Romania, sweet) Grauburgunder or Grauer burgunder (Austria and Germany, dry... Pinot Blanc is a white wine grape. ... Pinot Gris (or Tokay Pinot Gris) is a white wine grape of species Vitis vinifera related to Pinot noir which goes by a lot of other names: Pinot Grigio (Italy) Pinot Beurot (Loire Valley, France) Ruländer (Austria and Germany, Romania, sweet) Grauburgunder or Grauer burgunder (Austria and Germany, dry... Genetic fingerprinting or DNA testing is a technique to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ...

Pinot Noir vines at Clos de Bèze, Gevrey-Chambertin, on Burgundy's Côte d'Or
Pinot Noir vines at Clos de Bèze, Gevrey-Chambertin, on Burgundy's Côte d'Or

A more recent white grape sport was propagated in 1936 by Henri Gouges of Burgundy, and there is now 2.5ha planted of this grape which Clive Coates [9] calls Pinot Gouges, and others call Pinot Musigny. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 716 KB) Low yielding Pinot Noir vines situated in the prestigious Clos de Bèze grand cru vineyard, Gervey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 716 KB) Low yielding Pinot Noir vines situated in the prestigious Clos de Bèze grand cru vineyard, Gervey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France. ...


Pinot Liébault is a mutant which has higher, more consistent yields than Pinot Noir, but retains its oenological qualities. As such it is explicitly mentioned in some Burgundy appellations. Pinot noir is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. ...


The Wrotham (pronounced "ruttum") Pinot is an English variety with white hairs on the upper surface of the leaves, and is particularly resistant to disease. Edward Hyams of Oxted Viticultural Research Station was alerted to a strange vine growing against a cottage wall in Wrotham in Kent, which local lore said was descended from vines brought over by the Romans. An experimental Blanc de Noir was made at Oxted, and in 1980 Richard Peterson took cuttings to California, where he now makes a pink sparkling Wrotham Pinot.[10] Wrotham Pinot is sometimes regarded as a synonym of Pinot meunier, but it has a higher natural sugar content and ripens two weeks earlier.[11] Wrotham (pronounced ) is a village situated on the Pilgrims Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ...


Pinot noir appears to be particularly prone to mutation (suggesting it has active transposable elements?), and has a long history in cultivation, so there are hundreds of different clones such as Pinot Fin and Pinot Tordu. More than 50 are officially recognized in France compared to only 25 of the much more widely planted cabernet sauvignon.[3] The French Etablissement National Technique pour l’Amelioration de la Viticulture (ENTAV) has set up a programme to select the best clones of Pinot. Laurent Audeguin of ENTAV believes that most American clones, such as 'Pommard' and 'Wadenswiel', produce wine that is inferior and very different to French Pinot;[12] the recent popularity of ENTAV ("Dijon") clones in the US would appear to support that thesis. It has even been suggested that the difference between Oregon and Californian wines is principally a clonal effect, [12] Oregon having mainly 'Wadenswil' (UCD2A) and 'Pommard' (aka 'Coury', UCD4),[13] California has a lot of the well-regarded Joseph Swan clone. Transposons are sequences of DNA that can move around to different positions within the genome of a single cell, a process called transposition. ... For other uses, see clone. ... Old vine Cabernet Sauvignon at Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley. ...


Gamay Beaujolais is an early-ripening clone of Pinot noir. It is used mostly in California but is also seen in New Zealand[14]. It was brought to California by Paul Masson. [15] Frühburgunder (Pinot Noir Précoce) is an early-ripening grape that is thought to be a clone of Pinot noir[3] - it's possible that the two are the same mutant. Gamay Beaujolais is a varietal designation for a Californian grape variety that is an early ripening clone of Pinot noir. ...


In August 2007, French researchers announced the sequencing of the genome of Pinot Noir.[16] It is the first fruit crop to be sequenced, and only the fourth flowering plant.


Crosses

In the Middle Ages, the nobility of northeast France grew some form of Pinot on the slopes above the peasants' Gouais blanc, a Croatian grape that may have been brought to Gaul by the Romans. Much cross-pollination resulted from such proximity, and the genetic distance between the two parents imparted hybrid vigour leading to many desirable offspring. These include Chardonnay, Aligoté, Auxerrois, Gamay, Melon and eleven others.[7]. Gouais Blanc is a white grape variety that is hardly grown any more. ... Heterosis is increased strength of different characteristics in hybrids; the possibility to obtain a better individual by combining the virtues of its parents. ... Oak-aged Chardonnay is particularly popular in the United States. ... Aligoté is a white grape used to make white wines in the Burgundy region of France. ... Auxerrois is a historical province of France, part of Burgundy. ... A California Gamay Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ...


In 1925 Pinot noir was crossed in South Africa with the Cinsaut grape (known locally as Hermitage) to create a unique variety called Pinotage. Cinsaut or Cinsault is a red wine grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it the fourth most widely-planted grape variety in France. ... Pinotage is a wine grape that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (called Hermitage in South Africa and parts of Europe, hence the portmanteau name of this grape variety). ...


Regions

Australia

Pinot Noir is produced in several wine growing areas of Australia, notably in the Yarra Valley, Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Beechworth, Whitlands, South Gippsland, Sunbury and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Adelaide Hills in South Australia and Tasmania. The Yarra Valley of the Yarra River, originating in the Yarra Ranges approximately 60 kilometres east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... This article is about the Victorian city; the name may also refer to City of Geelong or Geelong city centre. ... The Bellarine Peninsula is a peninsula located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Corio Bay and Bass Strait. ... Beechworth () is a well-preserved historical town located in the north-east of Victoria, Australia, famous for its major growth during the gold rush days of the mid-1850s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Places called Scumbury include: Scumbury County, New Brunswick Scumbury, Ohio Scumbury, Pennsylvania Scumbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England Scumbury, Victoria, Australia Scumbury downs College The proposed name of Bangor, Maine at the time of its incorporation == == Category: ... A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Western Port Bay and Bass Strait. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ... The Waterfall Gully waterfall in the Adelaide Foothills The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product...


Austria

In Austria, Pinot Noir is sometimes called Blauburgunder (literally Blue Burgundy) and produced in Burgenland and Lower Austria. Austrian Pinot noir wines are dry red wines similar in character to the red wines of Burgundy, mostly aged in French barriques. Some of the best Austrian Pinots come from Neusiedlersee and Blaufraenkischland, (Burgenland) and Thermenregion (Lower Austria). Burgenland (Hungarian Várvidék, Őrvidék or Felsőőrvidék, Croatian Gradišće, Slovenian Gradiščansko) is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. ... Map of Lower Austria showing districts and the four quarters (Waldviertel in green, Weinviertel in red, Mostviertel in yellow and Industrieviertel in blue) Lower Austria (de: Niederösterreich) is one of the nine states or Bundesländer in Austria. ... A barrique is a small oak barrel used for fermentation and aging of red and white wine. ...


Canada

Quality Pinot noir has been grown in Ontario for some time in the Niagara Peninsula and especially the Short Hills Bench wine region, as well as on the north shore of Lake Erie. It has also been grown recently in the Okanagan, Lower Mainland, and Vancouver Island wine regions of British Columbia. Map of Southern Ontario showing Niagara Peninsula in red The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Ontario, Canada lying on the south shore of Lake Ontario. ... The Short Hills Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula (St. ... Lake Erie (pronounced ) is the tenth largest lake on Earth[2] and, of the five Great Lakes of North America, is the fourth largest by surface area, the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume. ... The regional districts that comprise the Okanagan are shown in red. ... The Lower Mainland is the name that residents of British Columbia apply to the region surrounding the City of Vancouver. ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ... Motto: Splendor sine occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 5th - Total 944,735 km...


In the last decade, growers in the Prince Edward County region of Ontario such as wine pioneer Geoff Heinricks have made a concerted effort to grow pinot noir in the region, as it is felt by advocates that the latitude, climate, growing season, and limestone soils are very similar to the Burgundy region of France. The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. ...


While hotter climates struggle to get the interesting high notes of Pinot Noir the Niagara Peninsula is emerging as a region that produces wines which are expressive of varietal character with the noted influence of its regional soils and climate. Premier houses are starting to emerge with wines from Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, Le Clos Jordanne (a Vincor/Boisset project), Picard Pere et Fils, Cave Spring Cellars, Flatrock Cellar, Fielding Estate Winery, Coyote's Run and Chateau des Charmes all considered as leading producers in the region, to mention a few. Some of these producers also make fine traditional method sparkling wines using Pinot Noir while a further trend is toward premium dry roses using the same as a component or for a varietal wine. Map of Southern Ontario showing Niagara Peninsula in red The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Ontario, Canada lying on the south shore of Lake Ontario. ...


England & Wales

Pinot noir is increasingly being planted in England, mostly for use in champagne blends such as Nyetimber. It is sometimes made into a fairly light still red or rose wine, in the style of Alsace, Chapel Down are particular keen on it. England can claim an indigenous Pinot variety in the Wrotham Pinot (see above).


France

2 bottles of Red Burgundy from Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits.

Pinot Noir has made France's Burgundy appellation famous, and vice-versa. Many wine historians, including John Winthrop Haeger and Roger Dion, believe that the association between pinot and Burgundy was the explicit strategy of Burgundy's Valois dukes. Roger Dion, in his thesis regarding Philip the Bold's role in promoting the spread of pinot noir, holds that the reputation of Beaune wines as "the finest in the world" was a propaganda triumph of Burgundy's Valois dukes.[2] In any event, the worldwide archetype for pinot noir is that grown in Burgundy where it has been cultivated since 100 CE. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (537x810, 94 KB) Author: User:Limegreen 2 bottles of Red Burgundy from Gevrey Chambertin, Cote dOr, Burgundy. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (537x810, 94 KB) Author: User:Limegreen 2 bottles of Red Burgundy from Gevrey Chambertin, Cote dOr, Burgundy. ... Gevrey-Chambertin is a French commune, situated in the région of Burgundy, the département of Côte-dOr, the Arrondissement of Dijon and Canton de Gevrey-Chambertin. ... The Côte de Nuits lies at the northern end of the Côte dOr, the main area of Burgundy wine production. ... Coat of arms of the second Duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: ; German: ) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks; the former gave their... An appellation in its broadest sense is a name or designation. ... The Valois Dynasty succeeded the Capetian Dynasty as rulers of France from 1328- 1589. ... See: Philip III of France (1245-1285, king of France 1270-1285) Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1363-1404, regent of France 1380-1388) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Beaune is a commune in eastern France, a sub-prefecture of the Côte dOr département, in the Burgundy région. ... Chardonnay vineyards in the south of the Côte de Beaune surrounding the town of Meursault. ...


Burgundy's pinot noir produces great wines which can age very well in good years, developing floral flavours as they age, often reaching peak 15 or 20 years after the vintage. Many of the wines are produced in very small quantities and can be very expensive. Cheaper examples are available, and provided one is willing to sample, it is possible to experience the Burgundy character but at a more affordable level.


Today, the celebrated Côte d’Or area of Burgundy has about 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) of pinot noir. Most of the region's finest wines are produced from this area. The Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais regions in southern Burgundy have another 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres).


In Jura département, across the river valley from Burgundy, the wines made from pinot noir are lighter. Jura is a department in the east of France named after the Jura mountains (not be confused with the Swiss canton of Jura). ...


In Champagne it used in blending with chardonnay and pinot meunier. It can also appear unblended, in which case it may be labelled blanc de noirs. The Champagne appellation has more pinot planted than any other area of France. This article is about Champagne, the alcoholic beverage. ... Oak-aged Chardonnay is particularly popular in the United States. ... Pinot Meunier, also known as Schwarzriesling or Müllerrebe, is a variety of black wine grape most frequently used in the production of Champagne. ... Location of the Champagne province in France The Champagne wine region (archaic English: ) is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. ...


In Sancerre it is used to make red and rosé wines, much lighter in style that those of Burgundy, refreshing served chilled, especially in warmer years when they are less thin. Sancerre is a town and commune of the Cher département, in central France. ... For the song by The Feeling, see Rosé (song). ...


In Alsace it is generally used to make rosé wines. However, it is also used to make genuine red wines usually called pinot noir rouge, which are similar in character to red Burgundy and Beaujolais wines but are consumed chilled. Prominent examples are Rouge de Barr and Rouge d'Ottrott. Pinot noir rouge is the only red wine produced in Alsace. Alsatian wine has a long history. ... For the song by The Feeling, see Rosé (song). ...


Germany

In Germany it is called Spätburgunder, and is now the most widely planted red grape.[3] Historically much German wine produced from pinot noir was pale, often rosé like the red wines of Alsace. However recently, despite the northerly climate, darker, richer reds have been produced, often barrel (barrique) aged, in regions such as Baden, Palatinate (Pfalz) and Ahr. These are rarely exported and are often very expensive in Germany for the better examples. As "Rhenish", German Pinot Noir is mentioned several times in Shakesperean plays as a highly prized wine. [17] For the song by The Feeling, see Rosé (song). ... (New region flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital Regional President Departments Bas-Rhin Haut-Rhin Arrondissements 13 Cantons 75 Communes 903 Statistics Land area1 8,280 km² (??? mi) km² Population (Ranked 14th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... A barrique is a small oak barrel used for fermentation and aging of red and white wine. ... Baden is a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the right bank of the Rhine. ... Palatinate (German: ) is a German wine-growing region (Weinbaugebiet) in the area of Bad Dürkheim, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate. ... The Ahr is a river in Germany, a left tributary of the Rhine. ...


There is also a smaller-berried, lower yield variety called Frühburgunder which is grown in Rheinhessen and Ahr area and can produce very good wines. Rheinhessen (in English: Rhenish Hesse) refers to the part of the former Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt located west of the Rhine river and now part of Rhineland-Palatinate. ... The Ahr is a river in Germany, a left tributary of the Rhine. ...


Italy

In Italy, where Pinot Noir is known as Pinot Nero, it has traditionally been cultivated in the Alto Adige, Collio Goriziano, Oltrepò Pavese and Trentino regions to produce Burgundy-style red wines. Cultivation of Pinot Noir in other regions of Italy, mostly since the 1980s, has been challenging due to climate and soil conditions.


Moldova

Pinot Noir grapes in a vineyard in Moldova.
Pinot Noir grapes in a vineyard in Moldova.

A lot of Pinot was planted in central Moldova during the 19th century, although much was lost to the ravages of both phylloxera and communism. Quality is somewhat variable; Moldovan Pinot can be overoaked and rather rough. Hopefully new investment and greater exposure to Western winemaking techniques will improve things. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 1. ...


New Zealand

Pinot Noir is a grape variety whose importance in New Zealand is greater than the weight of planting. Early in the modern wine industry (late 1970s early 1980s), the comparatively low annual sunshine hours to be found in NZ discouraged the planting of red varieties. But even at this time great hopes were had for Pinot Noir (see Romeo Bragato). Initial results were not promising for several reasons, including the mistaken planting of Gamay [citation needed], and the limited number of Pinot Noir clones available for planting. However in recent years Pinot Noir from Martinborough and Central Otago has won numerous international awards and accolations making it one of New Zealand's most sought-after varieties. Romeo Bragato was an Italian-born and educated viticulturist who worked for the Victorian government in Australia. ...


Historically, one notable exception was the St Helena 1984 Pinot Noir from the Canterbury region. This led to the belief for a time that Canterbury might become the natural home for Pinot Noir in New Zealand. While the early excitement passed, the Canterbury region has witnessed the development of Pinot Noir as the dominant red variety. The sub-region Waipara has some interesting wines. Producers include Pegasus Bay, Waipara Springs and Omihi Hills. The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. ... ... Location of Pegasus Bay Pegasus Bay is on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. ...


The next region to excel with Pinot Noir was Martinborough on the southern end of the North Island. Several vineyards including Palliser Estate, Martinborough Vineyards, Murdoch James Estate [1] and Ata Rangi consistently produced interesting and increasingly complex wine from Pinot Noir at the end of the 1980s and into the 1990s. Early plantings were on the alluvial soils of the Huangarua and Dry River terraces, while more recently growers like Murdoch James have been experimenting with plantings on the califerous hillsides south of the village. The moderate climate and long growing season gives wines of great intensity and complexity. In the 2000s, other sub-regions in the Wairarapa have been developed to the north of Martinborough. Gladstone and Masterton are just two of these. Martinborough is the name of a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. ... Wairarapa (often known as The Wairarapa) is a geographical region of New Zealand. ... Martinborough is the name of a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. ...


At around this time the first plantings of Pinot Noir in Central Otago occurred in the Kawarau Gorge. Central Otago had a long (for New Zealand) history as a producer of quality stone fruit and particularly cherries. Significantly further south than all other wine regions in New Zealand, it had been overlooked despite a long history of grape growing. However, it benefited from being surrounded by mountain ranges which increased its temperature variations both between seasons and between night and day making the climate unusual in the typically maritime conditions in New Zealand. At latitude 45º south, the Central Otago Wine Region is the most southerly wine producing region in the world. ...


The first vines were planted using holes blasted out of the north facing schist slopes of the region, creating difficult, highly marginal conditions. The first results coming in the mid to late 1990s excited the interest of British wine commentators, including Jancis Robinson and Oz Clarke. Not only did the wines have the distinctive acidity and abundant fruit of New Zealand wines, but they demonstrated a great deal of complexity, with aromas and flavours not common in New Zealand wine and normally associated with Burgundian wine. Producers include Felton Rd, Chard Farm and Mt Difficulty. More recently Central Otago has again subdivided into areas producing subtly different wines based on unique terriors such as Bannockburn, Gibbston Valley and Wanaka.


The latest sub-region appears to be Waitaki, on the border between Otago and Canterbury.


A recent blind tasting of New Zealand Pinot Noir featured in Cuisine magazine (issue 119), Michael Cooper reported that of the top ten wines, five came from Central Otago, four from Marlborough and one from Waipara. This compares with all top ten wines coming from Marlborough in an equivalent blind tasting from last year. Cooper suggests that this has to do with more Central Otago production becoming available in commercial quantities, than the relative qualities of the regions' Pinot Noir. In addition, as the industry has matured, many of the country's top producers have made the decision to no longer submit their wines to reviews or shows.


As is the case for other New Zealand wine, New Zealand Pinot Noir is fruit-driven, forward and early maturing in the bottle. It tends to be quite full bodied (for the variety), very approachable and oak maturation tends to be restrained. High quality examples of New Zealand Pinot Noir, particularly from the Martinborough region, are distinguished by savoury, earthy flavours with a greater complexity.


Spain

Pinot noir has recently been produced in small amounts in Lleida province, Catalonia, under the appellation "Costers del Segre" DO. Lleida province Lleida is a province of eastern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. ... This article is about the Spanish autonomous community. ... An appellation in its broadest sense is a name or designation. ... Costers del Segre is a Denominación de Origen (DO) in the province of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain) and is divided into several separate sub-zones. ... Denominación de Origen (Designation of Origin - DO) is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines (similar to the French appellations) but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. ...


Switzerland

Pinot noir is a popular grape variety all over Switzerland. In German speaking regions of Switzerland it is often called Blauburgunder. Pinot noir wines are produced in Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen and Bündner Herrschaft. Neuchâtel, across the border from Burgundy, is renowned for its Pinot noir, a full bodied dry red wine. In Valais, Pinot noir is blended with Gamay to produce the well known Dôle.


United States

A California Pinot.

By volume most Pinot Noir in America is grown in California with Oregon coming in second. Other regions are Washington State and New York. Image File history File links Pinot_Noir_bottle_and_glass. ... Image File history File links Pinot_Noir_bottle_and_glass. ...


California wine regions known for producing pinot noir are:

Oregon wine regions known for producing pinot noir: The Russian River downstream of Duncans Mills The Russian River rises in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County, north of Ukiah, in Northern California. ... The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range is a mountain range in coastal California, running from Monterey southeast for 170 km to San Luis Obispo. ... Anderson Valley is a sparsely populated region in western Mendocino County in northern California. ... Livermore Valley, is a valley in California, USA, surrounding a city of the same name, Livermore. ...

  • Williamette Valley

Oregon pinot noir pioneer David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards first planted pinot noir in Oregon in 1965, and several other growers followed suit throughout the 1970s. In 1979, Lett took his wines to a competition in Paris, known in English as the Wine Olympics, and they placed third among pinots. In a 1980 rematch arranged by French wine magnate Robert Drouhin, the Eyrie vintage improved to second place. The competition instantly put Oregon on the map as a world class pinot noir producing region. [citation needed] David Lett, owner-winemaker at The Eyrie Vineyards in Oregon with a bottle of the 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve--the bottle that put Oregon on the worlds pinot noir map. ... David Lett, owner-winemaker at The Eyrie Vineyards in Oregon with a bottle of the 1975 Eyrie Vineyards South Block Reserve--the bottle that put Oregon on the worlds pinot noir map. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... A Wine Olympics was organized by the French food and wine magazine GaultMillau in 1979, three years after the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...


The Willamette Valley of Oregon is at the same latitude as the Burgundy region of France, and has a similar climate in which the finicky pinot noir grapes thrive. In 1987, Drouhin purchased land in the Willamette Valley, and in 1989 built Domaine Drouhin Oregon, a state-of-the-art, gravity-fed winery. Throughout the 1980s, the Oregon wine industry blossomed. The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area, or Willamette Valley AVA, is an American Viticultural Area which lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Domaine Drouhin Oregon is an Oregon winery known for its pinot noir and chardonnay. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... The state of Oregon has established an international reputation for its production of wine. ...


In recent times, wineries in New York State have come to be known for their Pinot Noir, in particular the Niagara Escarpment AVA and Warm Lake Estate. The latter, in Lockport, New York, is recognized in the Oxford Companion to Wine and has been awarded the highest ratings in New York State of any pinot noir with its 45 acres of pinot noir being the largest continuous planting east of the Rocky Mountains. State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... The Niagara Escarpment American Viticultural Area defines wines produced from grapes grown in the New York state portion of the Niagara Escarpment. ... Lockport, New York refers to both a city and a town in Niagara County, New York, near Niagara Falls and Buffalo. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ...


Recent popularity

During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, pinot noir became considerably more popular amongst consumers in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia because of the movie Sideways.[19] Being lighter in style, it has benefited from a trend toward more restrained, less alcoholic wines. Robert Parker has described pinot noir in Parker's Wine Buying Guide: For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Sideways is a 2004 Academy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-winning comedy/drama film, co-written and directed by Alexander Payne. ... Robert M. Parker, Jr. ...

"When it's great, pinot noir produces the most complex, hedonistic, and remarkably thrilling red wine in the world..."

On October, 2007, Blair and Estelle Hunt (Bald Hills vineyard in New Zealand, who started making wine without any previous experience) beat 4,760 entries to win the Champion Red award in the International Wine Challenge, the world's biggest blind tasting. Their 2005 pinot noir has been judged the best wine in the world this year and, it was the first time a vineyard outside France took Decanter magazine's top prize for best pinot noir over £10. [20] For other uses, see October (disambiguation). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Bald Hills is one of the northernmost suburbs of the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Blind tasting of wine involves tasting and evaluating wines without any knowledge of their identities. ... Decanter is an up market magazine on wine and spirits, published in over 90 countries on a monthly basis. ...


References

  1. ^ The Origin of Chardonnay Meredith, Bowers, Boursiquot and This
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haeger, John Winthrop (September 14, 2004). North American Pinot Noir. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24114-2. 
  3. ^ a b c d Robinson, Jancis (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine, Third Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.. 
  4. ^ Interview with Carole Meredith by David Graves of Saintsbury Vineyards
  5. ^ Genetic Relationships Among Pinots and Related Cultivars Regner, Stadlbauer, Eisenheld & Kaserer Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 51:1:7-14 (2000)
  6. ^ Association of dwarfism and floral induction with a grape 'green revolution' mutation Boss & Thomas, Nature 416, 847-850 (25 April 2002).
  7. ^ a b Lecture by Carole Meredith on the origins of grape varieties
  8. ^ S. Hocquigny, F. Pelsy, V. Dumas, S. Kindt, M-C. Heloir, and D. Merdinoglu (2004) Diversification within grapevine cultivars goes through chimeric states Genome 47: 579–589
  9. ^ Clive Coates, Cote D'Or (1997) pp. 144 and 457
  10. ^ Richard Grant Wrotham Pinot
  11. ^ History of English wine
  12. ^ a b Don Baumhefner (2005) Excellent article for Copeland Creek Vineyards on Pinot clones
  13. ^ Jason Lett (2004)The History of Oregon Pinot Noir Clones Pinotfile (3) 49
  14. ^ J. Robinson, Vines Grapes & Wines, Mitchell Beazley, 2002, pp. 227
  15. ^ Leon D. Adams (1984) The Wines of America McGraw-Hill
  16. ^ Grape genome unpicked: Vintage sequence could lead to improved pest resistance and new wine flavours, news@nature.com, 26 August 2007]
  17. ^ Stuart Walton, Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine Hermes House 2006, pg. 180
  18. ^ http://www.worldofpinotnoir.com/content.fsp?aname=participants retrieved 2007-08-06
  19. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15501876/
  20. ^ cnn.com, Making the world's best wine
  • Galet, P., Cépages et vignobles de France 2nd Edn., Montpellier, 1990.
  • Robinson, J., Vines Grapes & Wines, Michell Beazley, London, 1992.

External links

  • Pinot Noir Wine Grape History, Character and Growing Areas
  • [2] A weekly online newsletter devoted to Pinot from a US perspective
  • [3] A website dedicated to Pinot Noir.

  Results from FactBites:
 
Pinot Noir (1195 words)
Pinot is very prone to acetification and often loses the sometimes promising aromas and flavors it seems to display through fermentation and aging, as soon as it is bottled.
Pinot Noir shows some promise and has a possible future in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, and in New Zealand, although all may prove to have growing seasons that are generally too short and too humid for consistently outstanding results.
Pinot does not have the longevity in the bottle of the darker red wines and tends to reach its peak at five to eight years past the vintage.
Pinot Noir: Information from Answers.com (2961 words)
Pinot noir is a variety of Vitis vinifera, the red grape used commonly in winemaking, and may also refer to wines produced predominantly from pinot noir grapes.
Pinot noir grapes are grown in diverse locations around the world, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France.
Pinot noir grown for dry table wines is generally low-yielding and often difficult to grow well.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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