Pinot Noir comes from the variety of species of grapes known as the Vitis vinifera.  These grapes are primarily for red wine.  The name is French and means ‘pine’ and ‘black’.  This refers to the tightly clustered pine cone shaped, purple colored fruit.  These grapes are most commonly known as coming from Burgundy France. 

These grapes are difficult to cultivate but are known to produce the finest wines in the world.  This wine is also considered to be one of the most romantic wines in the world also.  Pinot wine tends to have a light to medium body with an aroma that might remind you of black cherries, raspberries, or currants.  When the grapes are used young the wine is often much lighter than other red wines.  Pinot Noir is also used with Chardonnay.

Many of the places around the world known for producing Pinot Noir include the United States, Italy, Australia, Austria, Moldova, new Zealand, Canada, England, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Spain.  There are California wine regions in the United States known for producing Pinot Noir which include the Sonoma Coast, Monterey County, Carneros District of Napa and Sonoma, and San Luis Obispo County / Arroyo Grande Valley.