Pinot Noir is a red wine grape varietal, with small black grapes tightly clustered together on the vine in a shape that resembles a pine cone. It originated in the Burgundy region in France, and is now grown in many wine producing regions all over the world. It is a very difficult grape to grow, and it is highly reflective of the terrior, and usually wines that come from different regions have very different taste profiles. Traditional red Burgundies are usually light bodied, savory and perfumed, and New World Pinot Noirs are very fruit forward, deep and powerful. Look for Pinot Noirs from Burgundy, New Zealand, Oregon, cooler regions of California (Russian River Valley), and selected cooler valleys in Chile. Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile wines to pair with food, it goes well with almost anything including fruit, shellfish, chicken, pork, duck, lamb, beef and blue cheese.
