Vine varieties: Pinot Noir

While Pinot Noir (of which 41,726 tonnes were picked in 2013) has not increased at the same death-defying rate as Merlot, its growth has surprised many. Calculating how much is used in sparkling wine production is not easy, but it is the major part. That said, when grown in the right regions, it can produce table wine of genuine, at times exhilarating, distinction. The most consistent regions are Geelong, Gippsland, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley (all around Melbourne), and Tasmania. The Macedon Ranges and Adelaide Hills each have a handful of excellent producers, the remainder are inconsistent. Australia’s very strict and cumbersome quarantine provisions delayed the introduction of the newest Dijon clones of the now-retired Professor Raymond Bernard, giving New Zealand a distinct competitive advantage, but are now generally available.