Pinot Noir – Simply Elegant
Pinot Noir, the Noble Grape. Pinot Noir, the Finicky Grape. Pinot Noir, the Versatile Grape.
A quality Pinot Noir displays all these characteristics in the glass and that’s what you’ll discover at the PWS tasting on May 15th.
Pinot Noir is one of the original six noble grapes proudly taking its place alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.
Lauded for producing high-quality wines. Pinot Noir is celebrated worldwide for producing some of the most elegant and aromatic wines. In Burgundy, its heartland, it has been cultivated for over two centuries. From there it has expanded to produce top-tier wines in Oregon (primarily the Willamette Valley) and California. But its reach is not limited to these regions. Vibrant Pinot Noirs are produced in New Zealand (Central Otago), Germany (Baden) and other noted international wine regions.
This PWS tasting event will feature high quality, high-end wines from a variety of these regions, while also, of course, including wines from the signature areas we all love—Burgundy and Oregon.
Pinot Noir is the most difficult of the noble grapes to grow, with some winegrowers calling it the “heartbreak grape.” The grape is very thin skinned and susceptible to disease. It is extremely sensitive to cold and its environment, requiring specific soil types, such as limestone-clay, to thrive. Its tight cluster structure traps moisture making the grape vulnerable to rot and mildew.
Besides its need for just the right temperature, soil, and climate, the vines produce relatively low yields and require very meticulous vineyard management. But when done right, the hard work pays off creating wines that express the terroir beautifully in the glass. As you might expect, the additional care to ensure a great harvest is reflected in the bottle price of the finished product. At the tasting in May, we’ll experience first-hand the different expressions of terroir in high-quality, well-crafted Pinot Noir.
Versatility is yet another hallmark of Pinot Noir. Beyond the red wine we think of as Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir is used in the production of high-end sparkling wines such as Champagne and Blanc de Noirs, to rosé and even white Pinot Noir. This is possible because the juice of the Pinot Noir grape is uncolored; the pigments in the thin, almost black skins make the rosé or red Pinot Noir wines.
Because of the variety of wines produced using Pinot Noir and the expressiveness of terroir, Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile food wines. It generally is light to medium bodied so it can be enjoyed with fatty fish such as salmon and the “lighter” meats such as chicken and pork.
Pinot Noir loves cheese and cheese loves Pinot Noir. Its more earthy expressions, such as from Burgundy and Oregon, stand up to rustic meals and quality Pinot Noirs are at home with elegant dinners. You’ll enjoy discovering how beautifully Pinot Noir pairs with food when the Hilton chefs create small plates to accompany the wines in May.
This event will focus on providing a variety of high-quality wines to demonstrate the many facets of Pinot Noir. We’ll be lead through this journey by a noted wine expert, wine judge and wine educator— Kevin Ostrowski.
We’re still in the difficult process of selecting just the right Pinots for our guests to taste but we’re sure you’ll not be disappointed. At the end of the night, regardless of your decided favorites and preferences, we think you’ll reach a common conclusion…simply elegant.
More details will be included in the next newsletter issue. In the meantime, please block the time on your calendar to join us on Friday, May 15th, 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg to expand your knowledge of and, hopefully, deepen your love of Pinot Noir. See you there!
Additional details, including pricing will be available soon – please save the date and check back in two weeks.
