Do You Know Pinot?
Here are some of our favorite Pinot Noir facts. It's about to get geeky.
- As one of the oldest varietals, Pinot Noir was cultivated in Burgundy as early at the 4th century.
- Originating in the Burgundy region of France, particularly in the Côte d’Or or the “Golden Slope.” Some of the most sought-after Pinot Noir is planted in the 50 mile strip of land, which includes the prominent villages of Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
- The top three Pinot Noir producing countries are France, United States and Germany. However, you can find Pinot Noir planted in over 25 different countries, making Pinot Noir a truly internationally acclaimed grape variety.
- Pinot Noir is one of the most difficult wine grapes to cultivate. The tightly packed cluster (pinot or pinecone) makes it susceptible to bunch rot and fungal diseases. If the canopy is not managed correctly, the thin skins can lead to sunburn, pest infestations and sensitivity to frost or wind.
- Pinot Noir is best served slightly chilled or cool to the touch at 55-60 °F
- Pinot Noir is particularly prone to mutation and with its long viticulture history, there are hundreds of Pinot Noir clones worldwide. As a comparison, there are more than 50 clones officially recognized in France, compared to only 25 clones of Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Along with having more clones than any other variety, Pinot Noir is prone to genetic variation and mutation. Both Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are color mutations of Pinot Noir. Meaning that the DNA profile of both Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are identical to Pinot Noir.
About Us
The World of Pinot Noir was established in 2001 by a small but dedicated group of winemakers from California’s San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties wine regions. We are a non-profit 501 (c) (6) trade organization.
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