International Pinot Noir Day: The World’s Heartbreak Grape

“God made Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot Noir.” - André Tchelistcheff

Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape to grow, but when it gets it right, boy oh boy, is it good. From cult followings to some of the most expensive wines in the world, Pinot Noir has it all.

Red wines, sparkling wines and even white wines — Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile and important grapes in the world of wine. In fact, there’s a very good chance you’ve already enjoyed a wine containing the world’s heartbreak grape without even realising it.

Pinot Noir has been cultivated in Burgundy for well over 1,000 years, but its story is certainly not confined to France. Today, it has found a home in vineyards all over the world, with each region putting its own stamp on this famously expressive grape. Oregon, California, England, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Italy and South Africa, Pinot Noir has an incredible ability to reflect where it is grown.

And then there is its role in sparkling wine. Pinot Noir is one of the three key grapes of Champagne, alongside Chardonnay and Meunier, proving that this temperamental little grape can do far more than simply make red wine. It can even be used to produce white wine.

Why is it called the heartbreak grape? Quite simply, Pinot Noir is fussy. Its thin skins, tight bunches and early ripening make it particularly susceptible to disease, rot, frost and difficult weather. It can be frustratingly unpredictable in the vineyard, and even when everything goes right, it still demands plenty of care. But that's also part of the magic. When Pinot Noir is grown in the right place and treated well, it can produce wines of incredible perfume, elegance and complexity.

It is also a grape with an extraordinary family tree. Pinot Noir has naturally crossed with Gouais Blanc to produce Chardonnay, and has played a role in the ancestry of several other varieties. It has also mutated extensively over centuries, giving us the huge number of Pinot clones and related varieties found around the world today.

From Burgundy's legendary vineyards to the vineyards of England (and, of course, the bottles sitting on our shelves) Pinot Noir continues to captivate wine lovers everywhere.

The devil may have made Pinot Noir, but we wouldn't have it any other way.