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The red grape variety originates from France. Around 300 synonyms testify to its great age and worldwide distribution. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Augustiner, Auvernas, Blauer Klevner, Blauer Spätburgunder, Frühschwarzer, Glasschwarz, Klävner, Klebroth, Klevner, Möhrchen, Moréote, Schwarzburgunder, Schwarzer, Schwarzer Burgunder, Schwarzer Traminer, Spätburgunder, Süßrot, Thalrother (Germany); Auvernat, Auvernas, Auvergnat, Berligout, Bourguignon, Clevner, Formentin Noir, Genetin de St. Menin, Morillon Noir, Mourillon, Noble Joué, Noirien Franc, Noirien Noir, Orléanais, Pignola, Pignolet, Pineau de Bourgogne, Pineau de Bourgoyne, Pineau de Chambertin, Pineau Noir, Pineau de Gevrey, Plant Doré, Rouget, Vert Doré(France); Pinot Nero (Italy); Cerna, Pino Ceren, Pino Fran, Pino Negru, Pino Nero (Moldavia); Blauburgunder, Blauer Burgunder, Blauer Klevner, Clevner, Klevner, Schwarzburgunder, Schwarzer Burgunder (Austria); Pinot Cernii, Pinot Cherny (Russia); Blauburgunder, Burgunder, Clevner, Cortaillod, Dôle, Klävner, Klevner, Salvagnin Noir, Savagnin Noir (Switzerland); Burgundské Modré, Rulandské Modré(Slovakia); Rulandské Modré, Burgundské Modré (Czech Republic); Kékburgundi, Kisburgundi, Nagyburgundi (Hungary); Black Burgundy, Franc Pineau, Gamay Beaujolais (USA).

Origin

This is a very old variety. There are countless sources/variants, often with different dates, as to when Pinot Noir was first mentioned or first appeared in the individual countries. The mentions in the 9th century in connection with Charlemagne (742-814) must be regarded as legends (but cannot be ruled out) because it is unclear exactly which grape varieties were meant. In any case, it is one of the classic Franconian varieties and could have been spread with the Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) during the time of the Frankish Empire. Reliable dates are 1283 (Moreillon) and 1375 (Pinot Vermeil) in France, 1470 (Clebroit = Klebroth) in the municipality of Hattenheim in the Rheingau in Germany, 1766 (Cortaillod) in Switzerland and the 18th century in Austria, Hungary and Italy.

Ancestry

Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities, it should not be confused with the varieties Béclan, Blauburger, Blaufränkisch, Brun Fourca, Gamay (Dôle), Gouget Noir, Persan, Pineau d'Aunis, Tressot Noir or Trousseau Noir. Pinot Noir is the original Pinot variety with many varieties, clones and mutations. Several recent DNA analyses have revealed a parentage between an unknown parent variety x Savagnin Blanc = Traminer (see Pinot for details). Somatic mutations include Pinot Meunier (Black Riesling) and Samtrot.

Pinot-Sorten - Pino Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Frühburgunder

Descendants

The Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris varieties have passed on their genes through natural crossbreeding (often with their partner Gouais Blanc). However, these three varieties have an almost identical DNA profile, which is why DNA analyses cannot be used to determine which variety was used in natural crosses. For this reason, only Pinot is specified (see there). Pinot Noir is one of the best grape varieties in the world, the Cépages nobles. Due to its outstanding characteristics, the vine was and is a very popular crossing partner for new varieties in many countries around the world. These were Balada (1), Belek, Bermet, Buket, Carmina, Carminoir, Diolinoir, Domina, Hebros, Jagodinka, Ketrosy, Kolor, Mol Kara, Orfej, Palestina, Petra, Pinotage, Pinot Nova, Pliniana, Prior, Rainha, Ravat Noir, Roter Milan, Schönburger, Skif, Vignoles and Župljanka.

Characteristics

The German name Spätburgunder is actually misleading, as this is an early-ripening variety. The "late" is a differentiation from Frühburgunder (mutation), which ripens about two weeks earlier. The vine is sensitive to late frosts and susceptible to coulure, both types of mildew, botrytis and viral diseases. It thrives best in relatively cool climates. Burgundy and comparable areas at higher altitudes, as found in parts of Germany and Switzerland in Europe, as well as overseas in Canada, Oregon, California (Carneros, Sonoma, Central Coast), New Zealand and Australia (Victoria, Tasmania), are considered ideal. It produces full-bodied, ruby-purple red wines with harmonious acidity and tannin levels, as well as fruity flavours of berries and bitter almonds typical of the variety. The variety is particularly suited to the specific terroir because it reacts sensitively to differences in soil type and microclimate.

Pinot Noir - Weintraube und Blatt

Growing regions

Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine variety in Burgundy. This has led to the many differently categorised parcels and the Burgundy classification system. In the 19th century, the variety developed as the basis for the really great Burgundy wines, such as those from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti on the Côte d'Or. A 1990 Romanée-Conti vintage from this winery is one of the most expensive wines in the world, costing $28,112 for a bottle at a 1996 auction at Sotheby's. In Burgundy, ~10,500 hectares are planted with this variety. In Champagne, the variety occupies ~13,000 hectares, or around 30% of the vineyard area. There it is pressed white (Blanc de noirs) and is an important component of the finest champagnes alongside Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The area under vines in France totals 31,602 hectares and is growing.

Outside of France, the Pinot Noir variety can be found in almost every wine-growing country in the world. In Germany, the variety, commonly known there as Pinot Noir, occupies first place among the red wine varieties with 11,762 hectares of vineyards and a growing trend, and is particularly widespread in the Ahr, Baden, Palatinate, Rheinhessen and Württemberg growing regions. In Switzerland, Pinot Noir is the most common grape variety and occupies around a third of the total area with 4,209 hectares. The international wine competition Mondial du Pinot Noir is organised annually in Sierre in the canton of Valais. In Austria, 616 hectares are planted with Pinot Noir, and the trend is rising.

Other countries in Europe are England (546 ha), Bulgaria (342 ha), Italy, mainly in South Tyrol (5,057 ha), Kazakhstan (180 ha), Croatia, Luxembourg (121 ha), Moldova (2,366 ha), North Macedonia (500 ha), Portugal (130 ha), Romania (1,930 ha), Russia (918 ha), Spain (969 ha), the Czech Republic (697 ha), Turkey (10 ha), Ukraine (385 ha) and Hungary (1,092 ha).

In the USA, the 2004 film "Sideways" triggered a real Pinot Noir boom in California (two couples visit Californian vineyards, enjoy wine and philosophise about it). It is grown here on a total of around 15,000 hectares, mainly in Sonoma County and Monterey County. Other US states are Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington. This makes a total of 22,998 hectares of vineyards in the USA, with a strong upward trend.

Other non-European countries are Algeria, Argentina (1,866 ha), Australia, especially in the state of Victoria (4,806 ha), Brazil (141 ha), Chile in the cooler north, as well as Bío Bío (4.091 ha), China (400 ha), India (100 ha), Israel, Japan (20 ha), Canada (639 ha), Myanmar (7 ha), New Zealand mainly in the Marlborough area (5,514 ha), Peru (1 ha), South Africa (1,153 ha), Thailand (1 ha) and Uruguay (56 ha). In 2016, a total of 105,480 hectares of vineyards were designated with a continuing strong upward trend. This puts the variety in 12th place in the global grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson statistics).

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)

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Dr. Christa Hanten

For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.

Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien

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