Ten reasons to drink Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir grapes produce a light- to medium-bodied wine, with a bright to dark red transparent appearance. Its flavour is captivating and complex with red fruit aromas of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. Although Pinot Noir has fruity flavours, this isn’t an indication of sugar content – this wine is almost always made in a dry style.

Who doesn’t love wine with a story? The name Pinot Noir is derived from French, “Pinot” refers to the pine-cone shape of the grape bundles, and “noir” to the black colour of the grapes. One of France’s oldest grapes, it is believed to be one of the most ancient winemaking grapes that has survived to this day. French monks were the earliest known cultivators, and this popular wine is now made all over the world.

The wine-obsessed movie Sideways is often credited for romanticising Pinot Noir. Throughout the film, the main character speaks fondly of Pinot Noir and proclaims his disdain for Merlot. Consumption of Pinot Noir increased notably after the movie was released, with Merlot sales decreasing. Coincidence or not? Either way, we’re always grateful for increased awareness of a good grape (happily, Merlot has since bounced back).

Pinot Noir can be paired with anything that isn’t too bold in flavour – rich combinations can overpower the delicate quality of the wine. The best food pairings are lighter white meats such as duck, chicken and fish. Earthy vegetables and herbs such as mushroom and thyme match the wine’s savoury elements, especially when folded into a risotto or pasta. It can also be paired with cheeses such as Brie and Camembert. Try recipes with cherries and figs, seared salmon or tuna, and goat’s cheese.

Pinot Noir is traditionally cultivated in the Burgundy region of France and is notoriously difficult to grow, which is why it’s also called the heartbreak grape. This, combined with the wine’s popularity, has made it fairly expensive but, luckily for us, gorgeous Pinot Noirs are being made using grapes grown in SA’s coolest regions. Delicious, surprisingly accessible examples are the Catherine Marshall Pinot Noir and Paul Cluver Ferricrete Pinot Noir. 

It can be bottled alone as a single varietal, but it is also frequently blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Spier Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir and Woolworths House Chardonnay Pinot Noir are three bottles that give you the best of both worlds.

The grapes are extremely versatile, so you may want to raise a toast with wines such as Steenberg Pinot Noir Brut MCC, Simonsig Pinot Noir Rosé MCC, and Woolworths Spumante Organic Chardonnay Pinot Noir. This single red grape variety can be used in rosé, Champagne and sparkling white wine production.

The ideal serving temperature for Pinot Noir is slightly chilled at 12 degrees Celsius. This wine is also best served in a large bell-shaped or bowl-shaped Burgundy glass to enhance the more subtle aromatics of the varietal.

Pinot Noir is fairly low in sugar and lower in alcohol than bolder reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s also lower in tannins than bigger reds, which means you won’t be puckering your lips after a glass or two.

Sure, this point is not unique to Pinot Noir, but it’s worth pointing out: while this is a wine that’s well-suited to drinking right now, many Pinot Noirs will age beautifully for up to five years, with the potential to develop earthy, herbal, and even spicy notes – think wild mushroom, truffle and clove.

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