Pinot Noir Wine

Pinot Noir is one of the world's most captivating red wine grapes, capable of producing beautifully aromatic wines with remarkable elegance and complexity. Styles range from delicate, silky wines with bright red cherry and raspberry fruit to deeper, more savoury examples with spice, earth and forest-floor character.

Our selection brings together distinctive Pinot Noir from small producers around the world, from the classic vineyards of Burgundy to California, Oregon, New Zealand and beyond. Whether you're looking for something light and fresh or a more structured bottle with the potential to develop with age, Pinot Noir offers an extraordinary variety of styles to explore.

Pinot Noir Wine Buying Guide

Pinot Noir can produce remarkably different wines depending on where and how it is grown. In cooler regions it often gives delicate, fragrant wines with red cherry, raspberry and earthy flavours, while warmer sites can produce richer styles with darker fruit and greater weight. Burgundy is Pinot Noir's historic home, but outstanding examples now come from California, Oregon, New Zealand and many other regions. Understanding these differences makes Pinot Noir a particularly rewarding grape to explore.

What style of Pinot Noir do you enjoy?

Lighter Pinot Noir tends to emphasise fresh red fruit, floral aromas and delicate spice, often with silky tannins and refreshing acidity. Richer examples can show darker cherry, plum, savoury spice and greater structure. If you enjoy elegant, earthy and complex wines, Burgundy is a natural place to explore, while Pinot Noir from Oregon, California and New Zealand can range from beautifully restrained to more generous and fruit-driven styles.

Choosing Pinot Noir for food

Pinot Noir's combination of fresh acidity, moderate tannins and savoury character makes it exceptionally versatile with food. It is a classic match for duck and works beautifully with roast chicken, pork, mushrooms and game birds. Lighter styles can accompany salmon and tuna, while richer Pinot Noir is excellent with lamb and earthy dishes such as mushroom risotto. It is also one of the most useful red wines when a meal contains several different dishes.

Look beyond Burgundy

Burgundy remains the benchmark for Pinot Noir, but the grape has found remarkable homes around the world. Oregon's Willamette Valley can produce elegant, perfumed wines with freshness and savoury complexity, while New Zealand regions such as Central Otago and Marlborough offer distinctive expressions ranging from bright and aromatic to richer and more structured. California adds another spectrum of styles. Exploring Pinot Noir from different regions is one of the best ways to understand just how expressive this grape can be.

Pinot Noir FAQs

What does Pinot Noir taste like?

Pinot Noir is typically aromatic and elegant, with flavours of red cherry, raspberry and strawberry, often accompanied by floral, earthy or gently spicy notes. The style varies considerably with climate and winemaking, ranging from light, delicate and fresh to richer, more structured wines with darker fruit and savoury complexity.

Is Pinot Noir a light-bodied red wine?

Pinot Noir is generally considered a light to medium-bodied red wine, although styles vary according to region, climate and winemaking. Its relatively gentle tannins and fresh acidity can make it feel lighter than grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, even when the wine has considerable flavour and complexity.

What food goes best with Pinot Noir?

Pinot Noir is particularly versatile with food because of its fresh acidity and relatively gentle tannins. It pairs especially well with duck, roast chicken, pork, mushrooms and game birds. Lighter styles can also work beautifully with salmon and tuna, while richer Pinot Noir can accompany lamb and other savoury meat dishes.

Should Pinot Noir be served chilled?

Pinot Noir is usually best served slightly cooler than typical room temperature, around 14–16°C. Serving it too warm can make the alcohol seem more noticeable and the wine less fresh. Lighter styles can be particularly enjoyable with a slight chill, while more structured or mature Pinot Noir may benefit from being served a little warmer.