The style of wine made from Pinot Noir grapes can vary from country to country, from state to state, and even from one part of a county to another. This is the case in Sonoma County in California where you have good Pinot Noir grown in the southern area of the county called Carneros, and also have good wines made farther north in the county in the Russian River Valley. The Russian River wines tend to be a little more robust than those made in the Carneros area down south near San Pablo Bay. I have found that Pinot Noir from the Marlborough area of New Zealand tends to more closely resemble the Pinot Noir from Carneros.

The Pinot Noir wines from France, called Red Burgundies, get their name and their character from the Burgundy area of France where the red grapes are almost always Pinot Noir, and the white grapes are almost always Chardonnay. The one thing we know for sure about Pinot Noir is that it is difficult to cultivate and does not flourish in just any part of the world.

One place on the planet where it does seem to flourish is in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. There you will find a small winery which claims to be the oldest winery in the United States. They make a very good Pinot Noir there for a very modest price, which I would love for you to sample.

The Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, New York, is the oldest winery in the country, dating back to 1839. The Pinot Noir which they produce is somewhat Burgundian in style, with a nose of berries and tea box. The color is a rich garnet hue, and the flavors are a mixture of black cherries and currants. It is medium bodied, somewhat soft, but complex, and a truly delightful wine, especially in its price range.

It would be a wonderful compliment to grilled salmon, or my favorite food with Pinot Noir, prime rib!  It would also pair well with almost any veal dish.

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-6284