Origin: This is a very old variety that may have been around for 2000 years. The home of the Pinot varieties is thought to be the area between Lake Geneva (Switzerland) and the Rhône Valley (France).

Interbreeding: The origin of Pinot noir is still unclear and is discussed differently among scientists. One source speaks of a natural interbreeding of Schwarzriesling with Traminer. Another source states that Pinot noir probably descends in a direct line from the wild grape. 

Characteristics: The bud burst time is medium. The variety produces high-quality red wines and has sufficient winter frost resistance. The ripeness is medium to late. Pinot noir produces regular, medium-high to high yields. There are a large number of clones that differ in yield, berry size and looseness.

Grape: The cylindrical grape is rarely shouldered, medium sized and densely berried. The roundish to oval berries are small to medium-sized and are dark blue to violet-blue in colour. The berries are very sensitive due to the thin skin and react strongly to temperature fluctuations. The flesh is very rich in juice.

Wine: Traditionally, Pinot Noir wines showed a low colour intensity, were mild, low in tannins and had a rather reddish colour. In contrast, modern Pinot Noir wines today present a strong ruby red with violet hues and are appreciated as velvety, full-bodied red wines with a long shelf life. A typical Pinot Noir wine exudes a slightly sweet aroma of a variety of fruits, including cherries, blackberries, strawberries, plums and blackcurrants, accompanied by delicate notes of almonds and flowers such as violets. When ripening in barrique barrels, nuances of vanilla and cinnamon can often be added. The quality and taste of a Pinot Noir wine are significantly influenced by the terroir.

Cultivation: Pinot Noir has high demands on the vineyard site. Well-aerated sites with easily warmed soils are preferable. Since it reacts sensitively to dryness, deep soils with an adequate water supply are necessary. Acid, clayey soils only produce wines of modest quality. Botrytis infection leads to a strong reduction in the colour yield of late Burgundy, as undesirable brown tones usually develop. Therefore, measures to prevent any kind of berry rot are a prerequisite for obtaining pure and colourful wines.

Clones

• The traditional clone FR 52/86 is characterised by a stable yield level and positive wine ratings. However, its comparatively high susceptibility to botrytis has caused it to lose importance. Nevertheless, thanks to its positive wine ratings, it remains an attractive option if measures such as splitting the grapes or the use of gibberellin are taken to reduce the botrytis problem.
  
  
• The clone FR 1801 from the Weinbauinstitut Freiburg is in high demand and is classified as mixed berry with a loose cluster structure. It is rot-stable, very colour-intensive and has a distinctive aroma. The yields are moderate with a high grape quality.
  
  
• The Frank clone F 105 S is the result of a selection from the original clone Frank 105. In terms of must weight and yield data, it shows a very close similarity to FR 52-86. Compared to the latter, however, its susceptibility to Botrytis is significantly lower, as the grape is looser.
  
  
• The clone FR 1602 grows upright and produces slightly smaller grapes with a slightly loosened cluster structure. 
  
  
• The grapes of clone FR 13 L are very loose with comparatively large berries. Thus, the berries are clearly less susceptible to rot. In addition, it achieves high yields.
  
  
• The small-berried clone 20/19 Gm from the Geisenheim Research Station is characterised by a high proportion of smaller berries. This results in a significantly lower yield level, high must weights and a looser grape structure with better botrytis resistance. The high proportion of skins allows the production of colour-intensive, dense, full-bodied and very fragrant wines.
  
  
• The French clone ENTAV 777 produces high qualities, but there is a considerable susceptibility to botrytis. Therefore, it is only suitable for well-ventilated sites.
  
  
• The clone ENTAV 828 from France is mostly strongly shouldered. As a rule, it is somewhat loosened up.