| Pinot Noir is one of the oldest vine grape varieties | | | | ripening variety so spring frosts are devastating. Pinot |
| known and was named by the noble Pinot family | | | | Noir at The Gurdies has budburst at the end of |
| after the pinecone shape of the grape bunches. | | | | September, veraison (when the grape changes from |
| Pinot's been cultivated in Burgundy since the 1st | | | | green to purple) end of January to early February |
| century AD. One legend has it arriving in Burgundy via | | | | and we harvest anywhere from the end of March in |
| the Aedui from their invasions of Lombardy and Italy. | | | | a hot season till the end of April in a cold season. |
| Another legend has it arriving via the Romans while | | | | When picked too late the thinskinned berries will |
| other tales refer to the Romans finding Pinot already | | | | shrivel up and lose all flavour. Extracting all the colour |
| established in the region. | | | | is another challenge. When fully ripe, the Pinot Noir |
| With the Barbarian invaders driving the Romans from | | | | berry is a very light purple colour and requires careful |
| the region, the Catholic church inadvertently became | | | | handling to make the most of the light colour. |
| custodian of the fine Pinots. The monks used Pinot | | | | Pinot Noir goes through a range of changes as it |
| Noir in their sacraments and hence gained approval | | | | matures. A young wine will show simple fruity |
| for the wine. They improved the varietal through | | | | characteristics including: cherry, plum, raspberry and |
| careful vineyard practices and by the 6th century, | | | | strawberry. The complex flavours emerge as it ages |
| most of Burgundy was divided into church owned | | | | revealing chocolate, earthiness, smoke and truffles. |
| vineyards. The first documented mention of Pinot | | | | Only Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier grapes are |
| Noir in Burgundy doesn't occur till 1345. French monks | | | | permitted in sparkling wines from the Champagne |
| brought the grape to the Rheingau region where it's | | | | region. Around the world other varieties are used to |
| been cultivated since 1470. Church owned vineyards | | | | produce sparkling wines but Pinot Noir is a key |
| were seized and distributed to families in Burgundy | | | | variety anywhere in the world. |
| during the French revolution around 1789 resulting in | | | | Pinot Noir has many close relatives in the grape world. |
| an independently owned and run vineyard model that | | | | The best known include: |
| still survives today. | | | | Pinot Bianco or Pinot Blanc. Pinot Blanc in Australia is |
| Burgundy is home to Pinot Noir. Within the Burgundy | | | | really Chardonnay. |
| region, a 30-mile long by 2-mile wide stretch of land | | | | Pinot Blanc has been identified as Melon de |
| known as the Côte d'Or (Slope of Gold) | | | | Bourgogne. The French Alsace region is the best |
| consistently produces some of Europe's finest Pinots. | | | | know home for Pinot Blanc. The wines produced are |
| This strip has ideal chalky, well-drained soil, good | | | | light and yeasty with an apple nose. Some names |
| sunlight exposure with above average temperatures | | | | Pinot Blanc/Bianco hides behind in other parts of the |
| and gentle slopes. All characteristics you'll also find in | | | | world include: Beli Pinot, Clevner, Weissburgunder, |
| Australia's top Pinot Noir growing regions. | | | | Weisserburgunder, and Weisser Klevner. |
| Wonderful Pinot Noirs come from all over the world. | | | | Pinot Chardonnay is often used to describe a |
| It's grown in many countries and is known by | | | | Chardonnay. |
| different names in different countries. Some locations | | | | Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio or Pinot Beurot all refer to the |
| and names include:Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria | | | | same grape. The name comes from Gris, being |
| (called Blauburgunder or Spätburgunder), Brazil, | | | | French for gray from the grayish colour of the grape. |
| Canada, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany | | | | The wines range from light, crisp and dry to full and |
| (Spätburgunder), Greece, Hungary, Italy (Pinot | | | | sweet. Other names for this grape around the world |
| Nero or Blauburgunder), Mexico, New Zealand, | | | | include: Auxerrois Gris, Pinot Buot, Rülander, and |
| Switzerland (Clevner, labeled "Dole" when blended | | | | Szükerbarát. |
| with Gamay Noir), the United States, and Yugoslavia | | | | Pinot de Romans or Pinot de l'Ermitage is another |
| (Burgundac). | | | | name for Durif and it isn't a member of the Pinot |
| Pinot is a difficult grape to work with. It's hard to get | | | | family. |
| a consistent, great Pinot and the problem starts with | | | | Pinot Meunier is really Meunier and is not a member |
| the plant. Pinot Noir is genetically unstable. A parent | | | | of the Pinot family |
| plant can produce a plant with wildly different berry | | | | Pinot Nero is just another name for Pinot Noir |
| size and shape and even flavour. Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | Pinotage is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut from |
| has 12 genetically individual clones but Pinot Noir has | | | | South Africa. First bred in 1925, it is now widely |
| up to 1,000 possible clones. | | | | grown in South Africa as well as the United States |
| Pinot Noir seems to pick up every known vine | | | | and New Zealand. |
| disease, mould, fungus and/or pest. It's an early | | | | |