Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is both a grape and the name of the wine varietal consisting solely of such grapes. The name comes from the French word for “pine” (pinot), because the grapes grow in pine cone-shaped clusters, and “black” (noir), a reference to their dark hue.

Pinot noir is used to make four different types of single varietal wine, meaning the wine is 100% pinot noir grapes; red pinot noir, rosé pinot noir, white pinot noir, and sparkling pinot noir. Pinot noir is also used in blended wine, such as in Champagne, blended rosé, and Sancerre.