All About Pinot Noir Grapes
Surely you’ve heard of the incomparable Pinot Noir? Even the name has this exotic ring to it. Pinot Noir is use to describe both the variety of grape and the luscious red wine which is produced from those grapes. The name is a combination of the French words for pine (pinot) and black (noir) and refers to the characteristic pine-like clustering of the bunches and the deep color of the grapes themselves. Although this variety is more at home in cooler temperatures, it is currently being grown around the world. Despite its notoriously finicky nature, Pinot Noir is fast becoming an in demand grape.
The traditional home of the Pinot Noir grapes is in the Burgundy region of France. It is now being grown in many countries including Australia, South Africa, other European countries and the United States. California leads the charge in Pinot Noir grape production in the U.S.A, followed by Oregon. Other states such as Washington and New York are also producers.
Pinot Noir grapes are considered to be one of the ancient varieties of grape. There may actually only be one or two generations between it and its wild grape ancestors. While no one knows the actual date when the grape started to be cultivated, it is widely believed to have been first seen in the Burgundy region around the 1st century A.D. There are also references around the same time of the grape being grown in Belgium. They can be identified by their leaved, which are typically smaller than the Cabernet Sauvignon varieties but larger than those of the Syrah varieties.
Unlike many other varieties, Pinot Noir grapes are very prone to mutations. As such, there are over 50 recognized variations being cultivated in France. This wide range of varieties translates into the related wines as well. Generally Pinot Noir wines exhibit a medium body with hints of black cherry, raspberry or currants. As you can tell, there are numerous aromas and flavors associated with these wines. Although the grapes themselves are very deeply colored, the wines tend to be of a lighter color than other red wines, and this color is referred to as ‘garnet’.
The final characteristics of Pinot Noir wines depend on the quality of the grapes that went into the production, but also the maturity of the wine. Young wines are typically fruity and embody flavors of cherries, plums, strawberries and raspberries. As the wine ages, more complex flavors are brought to the forefront including truffles and chocolate. In the Champagne region of France, Pinot Noir is one of the few varieties that are allowed to be use in sparkling wines.
While Pinot Noir wines are full flavored and sought after, it is often difficult to get consistently good wines. This is not a fault of the wine making process but rather the fruit grapes themselves. The already mentioned tendency towards mutation means that a known parent plant can produce vines with vastly different berry sizes and flavor. So there is no guaranteeing that what you start out with is going to be what you get.
Adding to the problem is the fact that Pinot Noir vines have difficulties saying no to practically every fungus, pest or disease known to attack grape vines. It also has an early ripening time so if you live in an area where there are spring frosts, you’re going to be in some trouble. If you don’t estimate the ripening time correctly and wait too long to harvest the grapes, they’ll end up shriveling since their skins are quite thin. The fact that Pinot Noir grapes are so hard to grow makes having a thriving vineyard a status symbol of sorts.
Tags: burgundy, burgundy region, Cabernet Sauvignon, Champagne region, france, fruit, grape varieties, grape vines, grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Grapes, variety of grape, vines, wines
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