The best pinot noir for cooking is a versatile red wine that can take on any task in the kitchen. While many cooks are hesitant to explore new red wine kinds, pinot noir is adaptable enough to appeal to practically everybody. The greatest pinot noirs can cost anywhere between $6 and $50. There’s a pinot noir for any budget, whether you’re cooking a steak for the family or a special lunch for friends.
Pinot Noir Nutrition facts
What Does Pinot Noir Taste Like?
- Pinot Noir is typically dry, light to medium-bodied, with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and alcohol content of 12–15 percent. When aged in French oak, the best Pinot Noir has a complex flavor profile that includes cherry, raspberry, mushroom, forest floor, and vanilla and baking spice.
- Gamay is a light-bodied red wine that tastes similar to Pinot Noir and is most commonly found in Beaujolais. In truth, this grape is a relative of Pinot Noir, and it grows more significant in the Beaujolais region of France, near Burgundy (Pinot’s birthplace).
- Is Pinot Noir or Merlot the sweeter of the two? It’s worth noting that both of these wines are bone dry. … Even if the wine is officially dry, our taste buds perceive sweetness due to this. If you’re looking for a “sweet” flavor, opt for Merlot from warm climates like California and Bordeaux, France.
Here Are Some Best Pinot Noir For Cooking
Excellent Pinot Noir is far more affordable than you might expect. Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor, has chosen 15 of his favorites, all of which are under $20. (Brian Freedman contributed further research.)
2016 Buena Vista North Coast Pinot Noir
- This expressive, well-balanced effort would have thrilled Buena Vista founder Agoston Haraszthy, who first made wine here in 1857.
2017 Cameron Hughes Willamette Valley Lot 678 Pinot Noir
- Another culpable Pinot from America’s most well-known negociant, with enough delicate structure and balanced acidity to keep you going back for more.
Canned Oregon Pinot Noir
- This peppery, non-vintage canned Pinot has a brambly blend of berries and cherries.
2018 Cline Family Cellars Sonoma County Pinot Noir
- This has concentration, and superb structure, with flowery and nearly meaty aromas, kissed with vanilla. It goes well with grilled meat.
2018 Cono Sur Chile “Bicicleta” Pinot Noir Reserva
- This Chilean Pinot Noir has nicely structured tannins and an unexpectedly flavorful undertow.
2017 Erath Oregon Pinot Noir
- Oregon’s original wineries red is particularly intriguing, with cherry flavor and an earthy base note.
2018 Fowles Wine Australia Farm to Table Pinot Noir
- This red is a terrific bottle to seek out, with vibrant berries and a touch of wood from Australia’s finest Pinot-growing region, Victoria.
2018 J. Lohr Monterey County Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir
- With gobs of chocolate-enrobed cherries and melting licorice, a big, smooth Pinot lent freshness with a delicate note of herbs.
2018 Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Lafôret Pinot Noir
- From one of the region’s finest families, this everyday-priced red is a charming introduction to the joys of red Burgundy, vintage after vintage.
2018 Kim Crawford New Zealand Pinot Noir
- This Pinot Noir has peppercorns, brambly berries, pomegranates, and minerals, and it much outperforms its price.
2018 Olema Sonoma County Pinot Noir
- This Pinot Noir combines fruit from the Sonoma Coast, Petaluma Gap, Carneros, and Russian River Valley to provide layers of complexity and food-friendliness.
2018 The Pinot Project California Pinot Noir
- A strong effort from wine importer Michael Skurnik’s Pinot-centric label, with 20% French oak-aged fruit and a lot of generous yet lively fruit.
2018 Verum Patagonia Pinot Noir
- This wine boasts a flowery lift and an excellent mix of red-berry fruit and licorice from the Alto Valle del Rio Negro.
2018 Viñedos Emiliana Chile Natura Pinot Noir
- This raspberry-forward Pinot Noir is bursting with vitality and is ideal for pairing with pig smothered in barbecue sauce. Organic grapes were used to make this wine.
2016 William Hill Estate Winery Central Coast Pinot Noir
- Toasty vanilla, coconut, and mocha notes complement the ripe strawberry and cherry cobbler flavors.
What Foods Does Pinot Noir Go Well With?
Pinot Noir goes well with various cuisines, including salmon and other fatty fish, roasted chicken, and pasta dishes; more prominent, more tannic Pinots go well with duck and other game birds, casseroles, and, of course, stews like beef bourguignon.
Is Pinot Noir A Good Match With Steak?
Is Pinot Noir a good match with steak? Because most Pinot Noir wines are on the light to the medium-bodied side of the spectrum, they’re frequently paired with lighter meats. However, Pinot Noir’s innate acidity and vivid red berry flavor can complement your steak supper, depending on the type and cut.
What Is Your Favourite Way To Drink Pinot Noir?
Perfect Temperature: Pinot noir is best served slightly cold, at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t Decant: Pinot noir can be served straight from the bottle and does not require decanting. The Right Glass: To get the most out of your pinot noir, pour it into a large, bell-shaped glass.
Why Is Pinot Noir So Good For You?
Because of its high quantities of resveratrol, Pinot Noir is considered the healthiest wine. It’s created from thin-skinned grapes and has a cube of low sugar, calorie, and alcohol content. The highest concentration of antioxidants and tannins is found in Sagrantino from Italy.
Pinot Noir is a versatile and delectable wine to use in the kitchen. It’s a terrific choice for cooking because of its luscious raspberry scents and fruity flavors. The most excellent pinot noir for cooking can also be enjoyed on its own. Its rich, savory flavor compliments a wide range of foods, and it also can withstand a wide variety of foods. For example, it goes well with roasted meats, grilled poultry, and grilled shellfish.
The ideal pinot noir for cooking has a tannic presence that isn’t overwhelming. The wine’s tannic flavor will often be ripe but not overpowering. Ripe berries and dark cherry will be prominent in the wine’s flavor profile, with overtones of tobacco and chocolate. A wide variety of items can be matched with the best pinot noir for cooking.
Conclusion
Pinot Noir can be used in various meals, including sauces, meat dishes, and vegetables. Its lighter style complements stews and meat dishes well. In addition to cooking, pinot noir goes well with red meats like venison and is an excellent match for a wide range of Asian and Indian dishes. Although this wine has high alcohol and tannins, it can be diluted to produce a lower-tannin variant.
Pinot Noir is a red wine with moderate tannin levels that pairs nicely with meat meals. It has a powerful and fresh aromatic scent with ripe berries and red fruits notes. It has a light, earthy flavor that makes it an excellent choice for cooking and complementing with food. The best pinot noir for cooking will have an earthy undertone that nicely complements your cuisine.
