Not long ago, wine encyclopedia launched the night hill - pinot noir king gathering place article, mainly introduced the central region of France Burgundy night mound appellation Pinot Noir red wine, today we continue to follow pinot noir to travel around the world, experience the different flavors of other well-known appellations pinot noir.
1. Germany
Having said that, we will turn to its neighbour, Germany. Germany is the third largest Pinot Noir producer in the world, after France and the United States! The locals call Pinot Noir Spatburgunder, which can be literally understood as the meaning of late Burgundy, which shows the depth of its relationship with Burgundy. In fact, as early as 884 AD, Germany began its history of Pinot Noir, and the popular and best quality Pinot Noir red wines were rarely exported. Pinot Noir has increased dramatically over the past decade, with the same cool climate as Burgundy in France, producing fine red wines comparable to France's. Pinot Noir is found throughout Germany, but the most well-known appellations are Ahr and Baden.
Al is one of the smallest appellations in Germany, with vineyards measuring just 564 hectares, of which around 65% are planted with Pinot Noir. The name of the Al appellation comes from the Ahr River, where vineyards are located in the far north of viticulture, but with a suitable microclimate. The Aar Valley is part of the Rhine Slate Mountains, a metamorphic rock formed under heat and pressure that retains heat during the day and then slowly releases this thermal energy at night, which is very helpful to the ripening of the grapes. Most Pinot Noir tends to be light to medium ruby red, while Alpino Noir is garnet red. Alpino Noir wines have aromas of black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, full ripe strawberry, and subtle notes of cloves, fennel and cinnamon.
Well-known wineries: Meyer-Nakel, Jean Stodden
Baden is the home of Pinot Noir in Germany and the longest and warmest region in the country. Divided into 9 sub-appellations, Baden has long been known for producing spicy, rich Pinot Noir, the no. 1 grape variety grown in Baden. Most of Baden's vineyards are located in a narrow 130 km stretch of land between the mountain woods and the Rhine Valley. Baden is Germany's most high-profile wine region thanks mainly to the outstanding performance of small-scale boutique wineries, where sophistication has always been the number one target for winemaking. Due to the warmer environment, the fruit of Pinot Noir grapes in baden regions will be sweeter.
Well-known wineries: Bernhard Huber, Dr Heger
2. United States
After the release of the "Sideways" movie, the American fanaticism for Pinot Noir reached an unprecedented level. The United States is the second largest Pinot Noir grower in the world and produces high-quality Pinot Noir in some cool climates.
Oregon is the heart of Pinot Noir in the United States, an appellation that focuses almost entirely on red wines and is known as the Pinot Noir appellation most like Burgundy. Oregon's latitude is around 45 degrees, the overall climate is relatively cool, the average temperature is similar to that of Burgundy, the summer rainfall is less, pinot noir grapes are not susceptible to mold and rot, while tannins and phenols will mature perfectly slowly, and the acidity is also maintained, so that it has the conditions to make high-quality Pinot Noir wines. Oregon's Pinot Noir is highly acidic, fruity, delicate and subtle, and highly connotative, not as explosive and fruity as Pinot Noir in California, and tends to be heavier and more alcoholic than Burgundy Pinot Noir.
Well-known wineries: Domaine Drouhin, Beaux Freres
Sonoma County: While much of California is too warm for the production of high-quality Pinot Noir, there are still cooler appellations like Sonoma, particularly in the Russian River Valley, known for the delicate, elegant Pinot Noir produced in cooler climates. The mist wafting from the ocean in the morning cools the climate, and The Pinot Noir here is usually more intense than Pinot Noir in Oregon, and the quality is impressive, winning unanimous praise and a reputation for fine wines.
Well-known wineries: Hirsch Vineyards, Littorai Vineyards
3. New Zealand
New Zealand is known for producing aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, but their Pinot Noir is also renowned in the world. New Zealand's unique cool climate is perfect for Pinot Noir, and the different climates and environments of its South Island and North Island also produce different styles of Pinot Noir wines.
Martinborough is located at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, an area known for its dark, rustic Pinot Noir. The cool breeze blowing from the south allows Pinot Noir to ripen slowly and evenly while keeping the vineyard dry. The Tararua Mountains to the west obscure most of the ocean monsoon and rainfall, resulting in relatively dry and little rain, with a long, dry autumn that gives Pinot Noir perfect ripening conditions. Such Pinot Noir wines are very balanced and at the same time complex. Martinborough Pinot Noir wines are known for their elegance and delicacy, often with fruity aromas such as ripe cherries, sweet and not greasy, delicate and delicate, rich in content and depth, while also having a light and long aftertaste.
Well-known wineries: Ata Rangi, Dry River
Central Otago: The world's southernmost wine region and one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, Central Otago is to New Zealand as Oregon is to the United States. Central Otago has short, hot, dry summers and cold winters, deep in the valley, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, which are very conducive to the growth of Pinot Noir grapes. The tannins and phenols in the grapes will ripen better, while the grapes maintain a certain acidity, and the wine produced will be bright, textured, thick and layered.
Well-known wineries: Felton Road, Burn Cottage
4. Australia
Australia's climate is hot and dry, and traditional winemaking is known for its strong Syrah, bold Cabernet Sauvignon and creamy Chardonnay, yet a new generation of Australian winemakers has been pushing the envelope to grow Pinot Noir in cooler, lesser-known areas, where Pinot Noir thrives.
The Mornington Peninsula is close to Melbourne, a cool coastal area arguably Australia's finest Pinot Noir appellation. Some of the local boutique wineries with personal styles produce a range of Pinot Noir wines with different styles, ranging from fruity to delicate and elegant, as well as complex levels of taste.
Notable wineries: Yabby Lake, Ten Minutes by Tractor Wine Company
The Yarra Valley, close to Melbourne, is teeming with volcanic rocks and is known for producing the Burgundy varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, two varieties that are suitable for growing in cooler climates. Produced here, Pinot Noir is delicate and firm, with bright red berry notes and silky tannins, and has a reputation for being extremely strong.
Well-known wineries: Yering Station, Tolpuddle Vineyard
5. South Africa
Like other New World appellations, South Africa is not highly regarded for the production of Pinot Noir, and most of the wine regions here are very warm, however, the cool sea breeze blowing from the southern part of the Western Cape brings light to the local Pinot Noir development!
Walker Bay is the most famous appellation of Pinot Noir in South Africa, and there is no one. The soil types of the vineyards are dominated by sandstone and shale, and some areas have calcareous Quaternary sand dunes. The wines produced here in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley are notable. Cool sea breezes from the southern ocean blow through the vineyards, reducing the temperature of the vineyards and prolonging the growing season, which is very conducive to the healthy growth of the vines, resulting in better wines. Pinot Noir here has a strong personality, with obvious terroir characteristics, slightly low alcohol, and a bright sour taste, making it the perfect table wine.
Notable wineries: Hamilton Russell, Newton Vineyard
6. Chile
Chile has a long and narrow wine region, and Chile's terroir is known for its aromatic, spicy Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmena, while Chile's Pinot Noir quality is grossly underestimated. In Chile, Pinot Noir is mainly grown in several cool-climate regions, such as the Casablanca Valley, San Antonio, Bio Bio and others.
Casablanca Valley: The coastal area of the Aconcagua Valley is one of the coolest regions in Chile, and thanks to the cool sea breeze from the Pacific Ocean, the climate in the Casablanca Valley is also dominated by coolness. Combined with mild winters, it is possible to have an additional 1 month of growing season than most vineyards in the Central Valley. Casablanca Pinot Noir usually emits raspberry, red cherry and other aromas, rich in tannins, balanced and delicate in taste, slightly high in alcohol, and long-lasting aroma in the aftertaste.
Located south of the Casablanca Valley, the San Antonio Valley is a changeable terrain that is more affected by cold and wet oceans than Casablanca. The Pinot Noir produced here is fruity, and the southern sub-region of the Leyda Valley, the wine is fruity, lively in acidity and delicate and elegant.
Notable wineries: Vina Anakena, Cono Sur Vineyards
The above is an introduction to some of the world's major Pinot Noir origins, and we hope that this article will enrich your knowledge of pinot Noir regions while also providing you with a certain reference when choosing different styles of Pinot Noir. You know, from France to South Africa, from the United States to Germany, it's not just Burgundy that produces Pinot Noir!