Sparkling Pinot Noir

Producers such as Champagne Pierre Paillard make up much of our sparkling pinot noir, with Champagne and Alsace leading.

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Sparkling Pinot Noir questions

What is sparkling pinot noir?

Sparkling pinot noir is a bubbly wine made wholly or partly from pinot noir grapes. It can be white, rosé, or red depending on how long the juice remains in contact with the dark grape skins. In traditional-method wines, a second fermentation in the bottle creates the bubbles and often adds bread, pastry, or nutty notes.

Is sparkling pinot noir the same as Champagne?

Some Champagne includes pinot noir, but Champagne is a protected French appellation with its own production rules. Sparkling pinot noir can be made anywhere and by several methods. A bottle labeled blanc de noirs is a white sparkling wine made from dark grapes, often pinot noir and sometimes pinot meunier, with minimal skin contact.

What does sparkling pinot noir taste like?

These wines can show strawberry, raspberry, cherry, red apple, and citrus, with bubbles that make them feel lively and dry. Traditional-method versions may add brioche, almond, toast, or creaminess from lees aging. Rosé examples usually show more overt red-fruit character, while blanc de noirs can be broader and more vinous.

How should sparkling pinot noir be served?

Chill sparkling pinot noir to about 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a flute for a focused stream of bubbles or a tulip-shaped glass for more aroma. Open the bottle slowly with a soft sigh rather than a pop, then keep it cold in an ice bucket. Rosé and richer blanc de noirs can be poured slightly less cold.