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Cultivar · Grape cultivar

Pinot Noir

Vitis vinifera

Also known as: Spatburgunder, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder

Pinot Noir is an ancient red wine grape from Burgundy, France, valued for elegant, aromatic red wines and as a principal grape of Champagne. It is regarded as difficult to grow and best suited to cool climates.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Record

Cultivar / variety
Variety of
Grape
Botanical taxon
Vitis vinifera
Type
Cultivar (clonal)
Breeding method
Traditional selection (ancient variety)
Origin
Burgundy, eastern France, France
Registry status
Historical
Registries
  • Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) · Global · as of 2026-07-12Catalogued as an ancient Vitis vinifera wine-grape variety with numerous clones and related colour mutants.
  • USDA GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System · United States / Global · as of 2026-07-12Germplasm accessions maintained in the US National Plant Germplasm System.
Adaptation
Generally regarded as a cool-climate variety; it buds and ripens early and can lose finesse or ripen unevenly in hot conditions.
Intended use
Red wine (still), Sparkling wine (including Champagne)

Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.

Pinot Noir is a black-skinned wine grape (Vitis vinifera) at the heart of red Burgundy and one of the three principal grapes of Champagne. It is an old, genetically important variety that has given rise to many related grapes, and it is grown for light- to medium-bodied, aromatic red wines.

A clonal cultivar propagated from cuttings, Pinot Noir is known for its tight clusters, thin skins, and tendency to mutate, which has produced a large number of distinct clones as well as colour mutations such as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. It has a reputation as a demanding variety to grow well, favouring cool climates and carefully matched sites.

Origin and relatives

Pinot Noir is one of the oldest documented wine grapes, long associated with the Cote d’Or of Burgundy. It is genetically central to a family of varieties: colour mutations of Pinot Noir give Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, and crosses involving a Pinot are the origin of several other French varieties, including Chardonnay.

Its long cultivation and tendency to mutate mean that many clones exist, selected over time for differences in cluster size, yield, and character. This clonal diversity is an important part of how the variety is grown and studied.

Growing characteristics

Pinot Noir buds early, exposing it to spring frost, and its tight, thin-skinned clusters are vulnerable to bunch rot in damp conditions. It ripens early and is generally matched to cool climates and limestone-influenced or well-drained soils.

  • Tight clusters and thin skins, raising sensitivity to bunch rot
  • Early budbreak with associated spring-frost risk
  • Best suited to cool climates and carefully chosen sites
  • Widely propagated as many distinct clones

Wine style and use

Pinot Noir is made into dry red wine, typically lighter in colour and body than varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is one of the principal grapes of traditional-method sparkling wine, where it is often blended with Chardonnay.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Adapted to climate

Adapted to soil

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: Originating in Burgundy, France, and grown in cool-climate wine regions worldwide for still red and sparkling wine.

Climate context: Cool-climate variety with early budbreak; sensitive to heat, frost, and bunch rot.

  • Wine style depends heavily on terroir, clone, growing season, and winemaking; the variety description is not a description of any individual wine.
  • Pinot Noir is unusually clone-dependent, and different clones can behave and taste noticeably differently on the same site.
  • Registry record identifiers and deep links are omitted where they could not be independently verified.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Cultivar/germplasm records and taxonomy for Vitis vinifera

    Type:
    Official registry
    Jurisdiction:
    United States / Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility (opens in a new tab)

    Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

    High

    Cited for: Taxonomic placement of Vitis vinifera

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]Encyclopaedia Britannica (opens in a new tab)

    Encyclopaedia Britannica

    Moderate

    Cited for: Historical background and varietal characterisation (secondary reference)

    Type:
    Reference database
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

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