The Pinot Noir Grape

Wine writers sometimes refer to Pinot Noir as “the heartbreak grape.” It is temperamental, does not like hot weather, is fussy about its soil, and requires a great deal of care. As a thin-skinned grape, it requires real talent to get enough tannin for the wine to have structure. It is difficult to vinify, needing constant monitoring and fine-tuning. But when it is grown and made with hands-on personal care, like our Windy Oaks Estate, it is one of the most rewarding wines one can drink.

The Pinot Noir grape has a noble history - it is believed that the Romans first made it into wine when they were busy conquering the Burgundy region of France. During the Middle Ages, the Cistercian monks in Burgundy earned their living from making wine from Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir vines are characterized by small, tight bunches and smallish leaves. The compact pine cone shape of the clusters is thought to be the origin of the name (“pinot” means “pine” in French). Compared to Cabernet, for example, the Pinot bunches are 40-50% smaller.

The Pinot Noir grape has a fragile skin, and is difficult to ripen fully, although in the right microclimate it can get very ripe and still retain a high total acidity level. In particular, to perform best Pinot Noir needs a long, relatively cool, growing season with cool night-time temperatures. Without this, Pinot Noir loses its finesse and delicacy, which characterize a great Pinot. These conditions are met at the site of Windy Oaks Estate vineyards.