The Mutants of Pinot Noir

Heyy Winers! So everybody knows somebody with a big family. Well I also happen to know a wine grape with a big family: Pinot Noir! One of the more genetically unstable grape varieties, Pinot Noir tends to mutate, hence such a large collection of relatives. So join me as I break down some of the mutants of Pinot Noir!

Before we go into the mutant offspring of Pinot Noir, let's talk about the head of the family. Pinot Noir is a thin skinned red grape grown all over the world, most notably in Burgundy and Oregon. Being as thin skinned as it is, Pinot Noir is very picky about where it grows best and any change in climate can drastically change the profile of the wine it produces. Now... lets talk mutants!

Pinot Blanc:

This particular grape has a mutation that causes pinot noir to grow with a white skin rather than a red skin which means Pinot Blanc produces a white wine. Pinot Blanc makes a very well balanced and crisp white. Perfect for anyone who likes Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

Top Pick:

• Foris Pinot Blanc - Rogue Valley, Oregon

Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio:

Easily one of the most popular, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are both mutations of Pinot Noir that are grown with a pinkish skin instead of red skin. For that reason these grapes are often used as the base for orange wines (learn more about orange wines here).

Top Picks:

• O.P.P (Other People's Pinot) Gris - Willamette Valley, Oregon

• Ca Del Sarto Pinot Grigio - Fruili, Italy

  
  

Pinot Meunier:

Perhaps a less known relative of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier's claim to fame is being one of the three grape varieties permitted in the production of Champagne. This particular grape still has a red skin. The mutation that created Pinot Meunier occurs only at the epidermal (outermost) layer.

What easily distinguishes Pinot Meunier is the powdery white layer that dusts its leaves. This can cause Pinot Meunier to have a silvery hue in the vineyard. This is caused by an inability to properly process Gibberellic acid and that is what results in the ‘peach fuzz’ on the underside of the Pinot Meunier leaves. As far as the wine goes, Pinot Meunier has a similar palette to Pinot Noir although noticeably more acidic and a little less complex.  

Top Pick:

• Dr. Edge 100% Pinot Meunier - Tasmania, Australia

Want to know more? Drop a comment or submit your question to the FAWQs page!