International Pinot Noir Day is celebrated on August 18 each year. The thin-skinned, red grape accounted for 16 per cent of the red varieties tasted for the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, and it was also the variety that produced the most rosé wines in this edition.
These four wines all come from Victoria. We asked their makers how best they should be enjoyed this International Pinot Noir Day.
De Bortoli in the Yarra Valley puts forward its 2023 The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, which winemaker Steve Webber wants you to pair with duck rillette. Handpicked Wines' Collection Pinot Noir comes from the Mornington Peninsula – its vibrant fruit flavours match rich, rabbit stew and hard cheeses, says chief of winemaking Peter Dillon.
Back in the Yarra, winemaker Rohan Smith pairs Medhurst's Estate Pinot Noir with Confit de Canard and frites. You can't go past Yering Station's 2023 Pinot Noir (also from the Yarra). Winemaker Amanda Flynn says to zero-in on flavours of umami – particularly shiitake mushroom gyoza and white miso.
2023 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Expressive, high end Yarra Valley pinot noir. Red and dark fruits, intense bright flavours, gentle and opulent, silky texture.Winemaker Steve Webber says: I love the allure, fragrance, charm, gentleness, subtlety, and drinkability of pinot noir. And I love the Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir for the same reasons.
H. Known as a temperamental grape to grow, how do you approach the winemaking process when it comes to pinot noir?
SW. Pinot noir is no harder than any other grape variety to grow. If you're not trying to crop at excessive levels, it responds to many sites, especially when day temperatures are moderate and nighttime temperatures are cool. We pick in the cool to preserve fruit aroma and flavour, use considered methods of extracting colour and flavour gently, and keep air away from the wine during the maturation. These are all important factors in making high-quality pinot noir.
H. How should your pinot noir be enjoyed this International Pinot Noir Day?
SW. Serve The Estate in a large goblet at 3–4 degrees below room temperature. Pair with duck rillette, alongside some fresh bread. On cooler days we pair our pinot with pork cassoulet.
RRP $24.95 | Drink to 2029 | debortoli.com.au | Shop this wine
2022 Handpicked Wines Collection Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
Indulge in the essence of the Mornington Peninsula, renowned for its premium pinot noir, showcased beautifully in this wine. Vibrant hues of red and black cherry fruits tantalise the senses, accompanied by alluring notes of spicy oak and potpourri complexity. On the palate, vibrant fruit flavours dance gracefully, intertwined with silky smooth tannins that caress the tongue. A harmonious symphony of flavours unfolds, offering a truly luxurious and memorable tasting experience.Chief of winemaking Peter Dillon says: We love pinot for all its nuances and how its personality differs on every site. We love how the vineyard, and Mother Nature, present us with individuality and uniqueness. While there will always be a common thread to the wine based on the vineyards in which we grow the grapes, for each and every region, every vineyard and every new vintage, no two wines are ever the same.
H. Known as a temperamental grape to grow, how do you approach the winemaking process when it comes to pinot noir?
PD. We hand-harvest the fruit, carefully select and chill overnight at the winery – this sets the stage for this wine. We then de-stem and ferment in open vessels, the must undergoes daily hand plunging to ensure a delicate extraction of colour and tannin, while imbuing the wine with remarkable complexity. Following this meticulous process, the wine is gently pressed off and aged for 11 months in a blend of new and seasoned oak barriques that are sourced from select coopers. The result is a wine of unparalleled depth that reveals layers of nuanced flavours and a velvety texture that beckons the palate to explore further.
H. How should your pinot noir be enjoyed this International Pinot Noir Day?
PD. The Collection Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir is a versatile wine that can complement a wide range of dishes – from rich and savoury to light and earthy. Experimenting with different food pairings can enhance your tasting experience and highlight the wine's diverse flavour profile. Serve at temperature 8–12 degrees.
RRP $60 | Drink to 2026 | handpickedwines.com.au | Shop this wine
2022 Medhurst Estate Pinot Noir
A brilliant bright crimson in appearance with vivid purple hues. The nose opens up with highly floral and red-fruited aromatics leading into a palate that delivers layers of morello cherry, pomegranate, cranberry and delicate spice framed with fresh acidity and fine, silky tannin. This is a powerful wine with a long, fruit-driven finish.Winemaker Rohan Smith says: I love that this incredible variety expresses itself so differently depending on region, site and vintage, which then opens up an array of stylistic possibilities in the winery. This 2022 wine is an expression of one of those possibilities, displaying beautiful fruit purity, depth of flavour and long, silky tannins.
H. Known as a temperamental grape to grow, how do you approach the winemaking process when it comes to pinot noir?
RS. It is definitely a challenging grape to grow as it's so sensitive to different soil types, site aspect, row orientation, pruning strategy, canopy management techniques (and thus light exposure), crop levels and many other factors. It is also the reason that producing pinot noir is so satisfying. It is an old adage, but great pinot noir is made in the vineyard, with sensitive viticulture and an extreme attention to detail. With careful winemaking inputs we see wines that express the beauty of the pinot noir grape!
H. How should your pinot noir be enjoyed this International Pinot Noir Day?
RS.The key to maximum enjoyment is to ensure pinot isn't served too warm, as it impacts the aromatics of the wine in the glass. About 15–16 degrees is a good temperature to get the best out of the wine – pour it into one of the many good pinot noir glasses available. Perhaps a little bit of a cliché, but duck really is a great match for pinot noir, try it with Confit de Canard, frites and cos salad.
RRP $55 | Drink to 2032 | medhurstwines.com.au | Shop this wine
2023 Yering Station Pinot Noir
A proud definition of our house style. Dark red cherry fruits and cherry stone bitterness build the core of a mouthwatering palate. Surrounding this is a delicate, but structured, frame of fine-knit tannin and fresh acidity. The finish is long and full of fruit, texture and bountiful complexity.Winemaker Amanda Flynn says: Pinot noir is our heartland variety in the Yarra Valley, yet each site, each clone and each season present a unique personality or expression. Pinot noir can be shy and reserved through the winter months, but it’s a cool time in the winery when it starts to 'wake up' in barrel and the aromatics and spices begin to sing. That’s when you can really see the wine starting to take shape.
H. Known as a temperamental grape to grow, how do you approach the winemaking process when it comes to pinot noir?
AF. It’s the temperament nature of pinot noir that makes it so alluring! In the vineyard, the growing season dictates how we best manage each site. Wetter seasons will be managed quite differently to our warmer years, and being aware of weather conditions allows us to be as preemptive as possible in our management, ensuring we continue to produce quality pinot. Within the winery it’s a very hands-off approach. Pinot noir is a delicate, thin-skinned variety, so we don’t work the ferments too much. Cold soaking, minimal pump-overs, cooler ferments and wild fermentations allow us to showcase the beautiful complexity of the grape.
H. How should your pinot noir be enjoyed this International Pinot Noir Day?
AF. Enjoy this wine somewhere that makes you happy, with good company and good food. When it comes to pairing, opt for a dish that screams with indulgent umami flavours – like shiitake mushroom gyoza and white miso.
RRP $40 | Drink to 2034 | yering.com | Shop this wine
Top image credit: Yering Station.
