Important Regions for Premium Pinot Noir

Of course this needs to be included, but keep going; get more specific. Medium-bodied. Red fruit in youth. Earth, game, and mushroom with age. Savory aromas. Low tannins. High acidity.

Fullest-bodied, longest-lived pinot noirs. Most prestigious (sub-)region for pinot noir in the world. Home to all but one of the pinot noir grands crus.

Fullest-bodied, longest-lived pinot noirs. Probably the second most prestigious (sub-)region for pinot noir in the world. More famous for chardonnay.

Grand cru pinot noir.

Grand cru pinot noir.

Grand cru pinot noir.

Premier cru pinot noir.

Grand cru pinot noir.

Premier cru pinot noir.

Premier cru pinot noir.

Premier cru pinot noir.

Premier cru pinot noir. From a (relatively) less prestigious region, but still highly regarded. High altitudes delay ripening and reduce reliability.

Premier cru pinot noir. From a (relatively) less prestigious region, but still highly regarded. High altitudes delay ripening and reduce reliability.

Home of the most prestigious sparkling wine in the world. Traditional method. Chardonnay and pinot noir dominate the blends.

Pinot Noir dominates the prestigious traditional method blends in this region, providing greater body, structure, and red fruit character.

Pinot Noir dominates the prestigious traditional method blends in this region, providing greater body, structure, and red fruit character.

Cool climate. Light body. Pronounced, perfumed red berry fruit. Light tannins. Called Spätburgunder here.

Cool climate. Light body. Pronounced, perfumed red berry fruit. Light tannins. This region produces the fullest-bodied, highest alcohol wines in the country. The best vineyards are on the south-facing slope of an extinct volcano. Called Spätburgunder here.

Full-bodied. Lower acidity. Juicy and vibrant with concentrated ripe red fruit. Ripest and most intense of the country.

Medium-bodied. Fine tannins. Cherry and cranberry. Lighter style for the country. Much is used in sparkling wine.

Medium to full-bodied. Ripe with dark plum and spice. High summer temperatures. Wide diurnal range.

A plain. Exposed to cooling influence of the Pacific. Warming effect from north-westerly winds.

Medium-bodied. Medium alcohol. Medium to High acidity. Cherry and strawberry.

Rich fruit. Strawberries, plums and dark cherries. Ripe and soft tannins. Oak. Age-worthy wines. Medium-bodied. Medium alcohol. Medium to high acidity. Cool to moderate. Maritime. Excellent quality sparkling wines.

Very pure fruit characteristics. Boutique estates. Medium-bodied. Medium alcohol. Medium to high acidity. Cool to moderate. Maritime.

Earthy aromas. Also used in sparkling. Cool to moderate. Maritime.

Moderate climate. Cooling breezes from Pacific Ocean. Ripe red fruit. Cinnamon spice. High acidity.

Intensely fruity. Strawberry jam. Red berry fruit and herbal notes.

Red berry fruit and herbal notes.

Smaller quantities. One of the coolest coastal areas of the country, since the rest is too hot for pinot noir. Vast majority of premium wines are oak-aged.

Some are light in color, with classic gamey and vegetal notes, although most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavors (red cherry, strawberry) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.

Full bodied. Intensely fruity. Red fruit flavors. Sometimes animal and vegetal characteristics (leather, meat, wet leaves).

Cool, foggy conditions. Elegant still wines. Sparkling wines.

Morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes. Still wines as well as traditional method sparkling wines.

Cooled by fog cover in low-lying areas. Concentrated fruit balanced by high acidity. Full bodied. Intensely fruity. Red fruit flavors. Sometimes animal and vegetal characteristics (leather, meat, wet leaves).