What is all the Pinot Noir Buzz about?

Need a little direction on a good Pinot Noir? Well…Alison Crowe, creator of Girl and the Grape blog (winner of the 2014 Wine Blog Awards “Best New Wine Blog”) is just the person you’re looking for. She recently posted 3 surprising things most Pinot lovers wouldn’t know but should know before they head out to buy that next bottle.

Surprise 1: “Pinot Noir isn’t always the heartbreak grape”
Pinot Noir tends to catch a bad reputation for being tough to deal with because of its thin-skin and tight clusters, making it susceptible to rot and fungus. However, since not every clone is the same, this allows some grapes to have less rot-prone clusters. Wait, it gets better! Pinot Noir develops very well in the cellar environment and is an incredible product of very minimal winemaking and maximum aging. So keep your hands off because the less touch, the less heartbreak.

Surprise 2: “Pinot Noir has a large extended family”
Who knew Pinot was such a powerhouse? It has a very mutable genome giving it the ability to produce a variety of clones, which in turn are different enough to be identified as their own separate wines. Depending on your mood and food pairing, you can choose a Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Grigio or our favorite Pinot Noir. If you’re looking to mix things up and turning that everyday grind into something a little more spontaneous and complex, you’re right on track because a glass of unpredictable Pinot can do just that.

Surprise 3: “Pinot Noir is the most versatile food wine”
Although Ms. Crowe went out on a limb in the wine world to make this bold statement about Pinot Noir’s versatility, the 2014 award-winning wine blogger couldn’t have been more right. Pinot Noir’s diverse nature gives it a food-friendly characteristic making it the perfect pair for almost any meat known to man. A glass of Pinot Noir has the perfect texture and smooth finish to top of the rich taste in that hearty piece of meat.

Now that Girl and the Grape has given you the inside scoop, it’s time to start drinking to see what all the “Pinot buzz” is about. No need to look any further, you can start your tasting right here with our 2011 Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir. Light in texture and sweet in finish, this Pinot is easy to drink with or without a meal.

So grab your glasses, start pouring and pass the Pinot please!