International Pinot Noir Day 2022: discover 15 facts and which wines to drink

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To celebrate International Pinot Noir Day 2022, we share some facts with you about the grapes and the wine as well as some recommendations from French wine importers in Australia.

What is Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned, dark blue-purple coloured grape. The grapes are round or oval and grow in clusters shaped like pine cones

It’s old!
Pinot Noir is one of the oldest known vine grape varieties. It has been cultivated in Burgundy since the 1st century AD making it at least 1000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon.

What does Pinot Noir mean?
Noir means black and the word Pinot comes from French word Pineau, which is a diminutive of the word “pin” meaning pine. It is named Pinot Noir because the grape clusters look like black pine cones.

Any other names?
Pinot Noir is also known as Blauburgunder, Blauer Arbst, Blauer Spätburgunder, Burgunder, Cortaillod, Morillon, Morillon Noir, Mourillon, Savagnin Noir or Salvagnin Noir.

If you’re drinking a Red Burgundy, you’re drinking a Pinot Noir
Red Burgundy wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Burgundy region.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are the same grape
Wine writers Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and José Vouillamoz who co-wrote the book Wine Grapes have found that Pinot Gris/Grigio and Pinot Blanc are the same grape as Pinot Noir. DNA analysis has shown that they are identical and are colour mutations of Pinot Noir.

Some of the healthiest wines
Pinot Noir has the highest levels of resveratrol in wine. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring chemical, in this case a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin. It is said to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Of course, the amount of resveratrol would vary from wineries, years, crops, through different fermentation processes, to name a few factors.

Not only single variety wines
The pinot noir grape doesn’t only make pinot noir wine. Apart from pinot noir itself, Pinot Noir grapes are also used in the production of:• champagne (normally blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier but also the primary grape in the Blanc de Noirs (white from reds) style of champagne);
• rosé wine;
• Beaujolais Nouveau style wines; and even
• grey white wines (du vins blancs gris).

What are Pinot Noir wines like?
Of course, this depends on the region and the wine-maker but typical flavours associated with Pinot Noir include red fruits such as cherries, raspberries, and strawberries.Pinot Noir wines tend to have lower tannins than other red wine varietals.

Pinot noir in France
Pinot noir’s home is France’s Burgundy region, particularly in Côte-d’Or. It is also found in the Champagne region as it is one of the key grapes allowed in the production of champagne.Pinot Noir is the only red varietal allowed in Alsace. It has been grown there since the Middle Ages.It is also cultivated in the Loire, the Jura and more recently in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. There most of it goes into the wines under the Pay d’Oc appellation.

France has 75,760 acres of the 290,000 acres of pinot noir cultivated worldwide.

Pinot Noir in the world
It is also planted in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, northern parts of Croatia, Czech Republic, the Republic of Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, New Zealand, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States and Uruguay.The United States has the second highest amount of pinot noir cultivations, with 73,600 acres.

Pinot Noir in Australia
Australia has 8,693 acres of Pinot Noir vines. It is is grown in several wine-growing areas, such as in:
• the Southern Highlands in New South Wales,
• the Yarra Valley, Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Beechworth, South Gippsland, Sunbury, Macedon Ranges and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria,
• Adelaide Hills in South Australia,
• Great Southern Wine Region in Western Australia,
• all over Tasmania, and
• the Canberra District in the Australian Capital Territory.

Family
It is unknown how Pinot Noir came to be but this grape that is about 1000 years old has had many children and grandchildren! Chardonnay for example, is a child of Pinot Noir, which resulted from a natural crossing with Gouais Blanc.

International Pinot Noir Day 2022
It’s observed annually on 18^th August. Share your pinot noir on social media with the following hashtags #internationalpinotnnoirday #nationalpinotnnoirday #pinotnoirday Feel free to also tag us @matildamarseillaise_en on Instagram or @matildamarseillaise on Facebook so we can see what you’re drinking.

A quote about Pinot Noir
“Chardonnay is a red wine disguised in white;
Pinot noir is a white wine disguised in red,”
(André Tchelistcheff)

FRENCH PINOT NOIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR DAY 2022

Clos Cachet

Ashleigh Huggins from Clos Cachet recommends Rougeot-Dupin Givry Village 2019 for International Pinot Noir Day

Why?

This wine is crafted by the talented Marc and Pierre-Henri Rougeot of Domaine Rougeot, a Domaine that has a long history of making superb white and red wines out of the famed village of Meursault. The Rougeot-Dupin label is a négoce venture they started in 1990 in order to diversify the family range by purchasing grapes from under the radar Burgundy appellations. Givry is an appellation centrally located in the Cote Chalonnaise, covering the three villages of Dracy-le-Fort, Givry and Jambles, and is rumoured that red Givry was the favourite wine of Henri IV.

Givry Village provides a delicate nose with floral, springtime scents. It is pleasing and balanced on the palate, respecting the softness of the aromas perceived on the nose. Combining freshness with fruitiness for a sensation of delicateness and finesse.

How do French Pinots Noirs differ from Australian Pinots Noirs?

As the birthplace of Pinot Noir, Burgundy producers have had centuries to finesse and formulate the top light bodied reds across the world. Championed as a single varietal wine in both Burgundy and Australia there are numerous similarities between them, with the cooler regions of Australia such as the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and across Tasmania bringing forth pinot noirs of stunning bouquets. The most noticeable differences are the more prominent earthy aromas alongside the fruity notes in French Pinot Noirs, this also allows the ageing capacity to increase with the developing bouquet that is unique to each terroir. Australian wines in general tend to have a smoother finish with less tannins, and while Pinot Noir overall has minimal tannic qualities there is almost none in Australian Pinots, and their fruit elements push forward a touch more.

What would you pair this Pinot Noir with?

Simple dishes such as red meats, roasted or grilled white meats, savoury tarts and pies, mild cheeses.

Single Vineyards

Kimberly from Single Vineyards recommends the 2017 Domain des Terres de Velle Bourgogne Côte d’Or Pinot Noir for International Pinot Noir Day 2022.

Why?

This Bourgogne Pinot Noir is made from two very different but complementary vineyards. Firstly, the Champ l’Huillier in Corpeau, in the plains just below Puligny-Montrachet, with a fair amount of topsoil and a lot of clay, gives the Pinot Noir its fruity character. Secondly, the Montpoulains, a plot of the plains of Volnay, with 45-year old vines, gives the wine excellent character and structure.

This stunning vintage associates true fruit freshness with delicate tannins. The nose offers aromas of fresh red berries, and the mouth is structures, expressive and asks to be drunk!

What would you pair this Pinot Noir with?

This Pinot Noir is perfect with a rich sausage or beef cooked in red wine sauce.

How do French Pinots Noirs differ from Australian Pinots Noirs?

This grape originated in Burgundy, France and is the leading producer of pinot noir in the world. The grape thrives in cooler climates, such as Burgundy, but also Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand. The cool climate, along with the hallowed soils of Burgundy and the mature ages of the vines, are all contribution to what makes a French Burgundy so popular. It doesn’t hurt that the French have had centuries to get this grape right!

Another recommendation

Kimberly also recommends the 2017 Volnay Ez Blanches for International Pinot Noir Day 2022.

Why?

The grapes for this Pinot hail from vines more than 50 years old, with the vineyard located in Volnay. The soil in this vineyard consists of sandy marls and some of the highest levels of limestone that Volnay has to offer. The result of this is a very original wine with nice minerality.

This wine, with a crystal-clear ruby colouring, presents aromas of fresh and delicate red berries. The palate shows typical Volnay elegance and the tannic minerality bring length and freshness.

What would you pair this Pinot Noir with?

A perfect wine for delicate white meats. Try it with a light bouillon stew, or veal blanquette.

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What’s your favourite Pinot Noir? What will you be drinking for International Pinot Noir Day 2022?