pinot noir

noun

pi·​not noir ˈpē-(ˌ)nō-ˈnwär 

pē-ˈnō-

variants often Pinot Noir

: a full-bodied red wine that is known for its complexity and often tangy character, that is produced especially in Burgundy, Oregon, California, and New Zealand, and that is used in the production of champagne

also : the grape itself

Examples of pinot noir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The annual Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Grand Tasting, held March 29 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, was buzzing with sunshine, optimism, lively whites and a steady flow of pinot noir. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

Sipwell Rock Steady Winemakers use Champagne-method conditioning to produce delicate carbonation in this effervescent rosé made from pinot noir grapes organically grown in California’s Sonoma Coast. —Kate Bernot, Outside, 30 Mar. 2026

This vineyard produces only red wine (primarily from the pinot noir grape) and its creations are among the most expensive and sought after in the world. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2026

As to whether today’s pinot noir wine tastes the same as whatever medieval knights were knocking back in the French royal court at Paris, grape DNA can’t reveal much about flavor. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "black pinot"

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pinot noir

• boudoir
• moire