August 18th is National Pinot Noir Day! (Like we need a specific date to celebrate this wonderful wine varietal, right?) Here are some fun facts about one of my favorites out there:
Where it grows: This varietal finds its origins to the Burgundy region (“Bourgogne”) of France. Did you know that all red Burgundies are 100% Pinot Noir? Some of the biggest producers of this grape are Oregon, California, Germany, and New Zealand.
Profile: Light-bodied red wine with flavors of red fruit (cherries, raspberries), mild spices (cloves, vanilla, allspice), and earthiness (mushrooms, truffles). Usually a softer tannin finish.
Food pairing: Pairs well with just about everything! This varietal works well across a wide variety of cuisine. So go ahead and pair this varietal with that new recipe you’ve been wanting to try!
Some of my personal favorites:
- Schermeister Pinot Noir (Wohler Vineyard) from California (though you can’t go wrong with ANY of their Pinot Noirs!)
- Boedecker Cellars Athena Pinot Noir from Oregon – solid example of why Oregon Pinot Noirs are amazing!
- A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir for an easy drinking wine.
Pricing for Pinot Noir wines has a wide range, but you can find solid deals from $10-$40 USD.
Tasting idea: Same grape grown in different places. Grab a bottle of Pinot Noir from Oregon, Burgundy, California, and somewhere else less popular (maybe Germany or South America) and compare how these wines are similar and different from each other. Pretty cool experiment!
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