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5 Things You Didn't Know about Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is juicy, delicious and is great with cheese, but what other secrets does this favourite red wine harbour? 

#1 Ceres is the perfect place to grow it 

The "Op Die Berg" (on top of the mountain) in the name of De Grendel's Op Die Berg Pinot Noir refers to the continental growing conditions in the unique Witzenberg in Ceres,  950m above sea level, where we source our grapes for this wine from. Sculpted by the cool growing conditions, the slow ripening fruit produces wines of consistently distinctive character and expressive style. This results in a Pinot Noir that has a light, bright red ruby hue and the nose is filled with luscious red cherry, blackberry and pine needle notes that carry through on the palate, balanced with a well-structured freshness.

#2 The French Call It Red Burgundy

We know they're pretty precious about their wine regions, and what they call their grapes, but truly this must have been designed to confuse us all! Indeed Pinot Noir was born in the Burgundy region of France, but unless they're grown in this region they have to be referred to as Pinot Noir. The name means 'pine black' because of the pine shape a bunch makes on the vine and the dark colour of the berries. 

De Grendel Wines Pinot Noir

#3 It's Cousins with Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a natural crossing of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc (a near extinct variety). Like its famous relative, its used to make Champagne. Grapes used for Champagne must usually be the white Chardonnay, but the dark-skinned Pinot Noir is given a gentle pressing without skin contact during fermentation, which yields a white base wine.

#4 It Made South Africa Famous

True story. This is because it gave birth to a unique South African variety, Pinotage. Pinotage is a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsault and began its life in the lab of Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University Abraham Isak Perold, who developed it in 1925, in the hope of developing a grape that was stable and easy to grow.

#5 It's The Ultimate Food-Loving Wine

A Pinot Noir is the ultimate food-loving, and versatile wine, known to be drinkable with most dishes. We love it with pasta, duck and other game birds, casseroles or, of course, stews like beef bourguignon. Also, be sure to try it at the De Grendel Restaurant paired with our pork belly!

BUY DE GRENDEL OP DIE BERG PINOT NOIR

August 04, 2016