5 Fun Facts about Pinot Noir
Hands up if you like Pinot Noir? Hands up if you have never tried it?
If you haven’t already, we highly advise it.
Here at Family Wines Direct, we are huge fans of Pinot Noir. There is just something about the wow factor it has in every glass and the ease to drink this varietal at any time of the year be it winter or summer, that gets us every time.
If you are a Pinot fan like us, you may already know a lot about this wine, but there are a lot lesser known facts we have discovered which may just impress your friends the next time you are sharing a bottle together.
1. Ancient tales
Pinot Noir is noted to be one of the most ancient winemaking grapes dating back to the Roman era that has managed to survive to this day!
It is thought to be some 2000 years old compared to other well know varieties such as Cabernet which may have only been around for a few hundred years.
2. It’s cool but also hard work
Pinot Noir is renowned to be one of the hardest grapes to grow which could be why it is one of the more expensive wines to buy. This grape is susceptible to disease and suffers in changeable weather. Most viticulturists will also tell you that this grape is highly influenced by the terroir itself, more so than other varietals. The ideal climate to help this varietal flourish is slightly cooler than many other grapes.
For this reason, the Family Wines Direct range of Pinots is sourced solely from producers in the cool Great Southern region of Western Australia which has the ideal Pinot growing climate.
So with so much hard work, why do they continue to grow it? Because like any Pinot fan will tell you, the results are incredible.
3. Pinot loves bubbles
Despite being the hardest grapes to grow, Pinot Noir is one of the more flexible grape varietals, capable of being made into a range of difference wines. From the Pinot Noir grape you can produce excellent red wine, rosé, sparkling wines and yes, Champagne.
The beautiful Allegory Cuvee Brut Sparkling Wine available in the Family Wines Direct range is made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes all sourced from the cool climate Great Southern region. The technique in using Pinot Noir in the sparkling wine is to use Pinot Noir juice that has not had contact with the pigments of the grape skin.
4. It’s French
The name Pinot Noir is derived from two French words, Pinot which meaning ‘pine’ and Noir meaning ‘black’.
The word pine refers to the shape of the grape bunches which hang in a pine cone shape. This is true for all Pinot varieties including Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir.
Black then refers to the colour of the fruit.
5. Pinot and Chardonnay = best friends
It is not a concidence that where you find Pinot Noir grapes you will also find Chardonnay. Chardonnay is actually related to Pinot Noir, as it is a cross breed of Pinot Noir and an almost extinct varietal called Gouais Blanc. As such, their vines prefer similar soil types and climatic conditions, which is why they grow so perfectly together in the cool Great Southern.
This is a similar relationship between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which live happily side by side in wine regions like Margaret River.
Pinot Noir is extremely approachable and famed for its balance, soft and rounded fruitiness. If you haven’t already, try this wine the next time you plan a Sunday lamb roast. You won’t be disappointed.