Watch this “Sideways” movie clip where the main character Miles’, played superbly by Paul Giamatti, describes the Pinot grape. His obsession with Pinot in the movie boosted Pinot Noir wine sales. Let’s use this as springboard for cover Pinot Noir wine growing regions.
Pinot Noir grapes produce super wine. So why doesn’t everyone grow it? As Miles tells us, it’s a challenging grape to grow.
There are plenty of issues. If it rains too much, their thin, sensitive skins can split and rot ruining an entire crop. If it’s too sunny, the skins can get sun burned and the wine can taste raisin-y.
Burgundy, France is the standard for Pinot Noir. Red wines grown in this region, except in the southern Beaujolais area of Burgundy, are 100% Pinot Noir by law. The weather there is well suited for it.
What other parts of the world are similar meaning you can grown good Pinot Noir there?
Several areas in northern California are right. You have Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. The river serves as a funnel allowing Pacific Ocean breezes and fog in keeping temperatures low.
Monterrey gets winds right off of Monterrey Bay. That keeps the area cold. Santa Barbara and Carneros are similar with either the Ocean or the bay near by that serve as natural air conditioners keeping these the vineyards consistently at the right cool climate.
Oregon Willamete Valley is another one. It’s 30 miles inland from the Pacific. Finally we have New Zealand. It’s an island with maritime weather controlled by the cool ocean water that surrounds it.
The best Pinot Noirs are grown in these areas.