Pinot Noir

The best examples of this wonderful wine come from cooler Australian climates-warmer climates tend to make it overly sweet and jammy. Tasmania, southern Victoria, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia and, more recently, Pemberton, Western Australia, have all had great success with this grape variety due to long, slow ripening in their more gentle summer heat. Of course, the quality and taste of pinot noir depend on who makes the wine, where it is made, the vagaries of the vintage, the size of the crop, and so on, and it can be too easy to dismiss this wine if you have tasted one that is too thin and short on the palate. I think it is one of the most gorgeous, versatile, delectable and food-friendly red varieties available, so invest and experiment.