The non-pretentious guide to Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir. It sounds fancy, it drinks easy, and it’s the wine equivalent of that effortlessly cool friend who somehow looks great in linen. Light to medium-bodied, always charming, Pinot’s incredibly diverse – which means everyone can find their own perfect match. 

Pinot Noir isn’t just one kind of wine. It's a whole spectrum of personalities depending on where it’s grown, how it’s made, and who’s making it.

The glass matters: If you can, enjoy Pinot Noir from a wider brimmed glass. You’ll get way more aromas, and what you taste is what you smell. 

Let’s uncork the mystery – here’s your no-fuss guide to Pinot Noir and all its delicious personalities.

Lighter, elegant, fresh

Found in: Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Tasmania (Australia); Central Otago and Marlborough (New Zealand); Burgundy (France); Oregon (USA)

These Pinots are light-bodied, silky, and full of juicy red fruit like cherry, raspberry, and sometimes a cheeky hint of cranberry. Thanks to cooler temps, the acidity is bright, the tannins are soft, and the overall vibe is “drink me with duck” or “I’m perfect for a long gossip session.”

TRY: Lay of the Land Ben Morven Farm Pinot Noir 2022: Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot or Tasmania’s Gypsy Caravan Tamar Pinot Noir 2022: The perfect balance of acid, tannin and ripeness.

Richer, rounder, bolder

Found in: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale (Australia); California’s Central Coast

Warmer weather equals riper grapes, which means deeper fruit (think plum and black cherry), a fuller body, and a bit more oomph. These Pinots still keep that Pinot charm but strut with a bit more swagger. If you're a Shiraz drinker looking to branch out, this is a great stepping stone.

TRY: Treat yourself to DRG Daryl Groom Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021: Aged in French Oak, it’s rich and soft and pure indulgence. 

Vibrant, fruit-forward, crowd-pleasing

Found in: Australia, New Zealand, the US, Chile, South Africa

Juicy, generous, and a little less serious than their French cousins. New World Pinots tend to dial up the fruit and keep things accessible, with enough range to go from pizza wine to “I just won trivia night” wine.

TRY: Vinity by Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir 2022: Hailing from NZ’s Waipara Valley, the Sherwoods are known for being Pinot pioneers and Rabbit & Spaghetti Pinot Noir 2023: Hailing from Adelaide Hills, Adam Barton’s Pinot has juicy fruit flavours and just enough oak. 

Savory, earthy, sophisticated

Found in: Burgundy (France), Germany (as Spätburgunder), parts of Italy and Switzerland

If New World Pinots are your extroverted mates, Old World Pinots are the moody, brooding ones who write poetry and drink espresso at 9pm. You’ll get less upfront fruit and more earthy, forest floor, mushroomy vibes. Delicious, complex, and definitely food-friendly.

TRY: TITITEA Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022: Classic organic NZ Pinot Noir from an iconic region or Randal Tomich Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023: Smooth with a hint of spice. 

Fizz with flair

Pinot Noir isn’t just a still wine star – it’s one of the key grapes in sparkling wines. When used in bubbly, Pinot Noir brings body, red berry brightness, and a bit of backbone to the blend. Blanc de Noirs? That’s 100% Pinot Noir bubbles, and it’s as fancy as it sounds.

TRY: Hooper & Co Generation 2 Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2023: Creamy and soft with a hint of lemon zest.

Raw, wild, and a bit unpredictable

These Pinots can be a little cloudy, a little funky, but super expressive. They’re often unfiltered, made with native yeast, and aged in neutral vessels. Expect sour cherry, dried herbs, maybe even a touch of kombucha energy. Not for everyone, but adored by wine hipsters and experimental sippers.

There’s a Pinot Noir for every kind of wine drinker – from the lover of light and pretty reds, to the bold-and-beautiful red wine loyalist, to the low-intervention natural wine fan. 

Pinot is a versatile grape with serious range, and it's basically the Beyoncé of the wine world. So the next time someone says, “I don’t really like Pinot Noir,” just smile, pour them a different kind… and prepare to prove them wrong.

“Earlier this year Antoine (Naked Wines’ Head of Wine) was in town so I was able to do the initial blending of our 2024 Pinot Noir with him. We decided on the base of the wine which was super fun. 

To concentrate the wine further, I used the saignée process, a French term meaning to ‘bleed’ or pull a portion of the juice from the tank before it begins fermentation. We pulled about 10% of our juice from Pinot during cold soak and racked to older barriques which were fermented separately.

I took the blend a step further and added a tiny portion of the barrel fermented Pinot Noir back in. The idea is to liven the primary fruit, in this case we’re getting lifted notes of strawberry and rhubarb giving the final blend vibrancy and elegance.

The 2024 Pinot Noir is looking superb, and I can’t wait to share it with you!”