Regional Expressions of Pinot Noir: A Journey Through the World’s Finest Terroirs

Explore the world of Pinot Noir through six iconic regions, each showcasing the grape’s versatility, depth, and expression. Originally grown on the rolling hills of Burgundy, we’re here to highlight the must know regions a little closer to home.

Yarra Valley

Moving a little closer to home, Victoria’s Yarra Valley produces some of the worlds most acclaimed Pinot Noirs. Yarra Valley Pinot’s take on a more modern style, with a light to medium body, silky tannins and smooth texture, they are typically more fragrant with a lighter, crisper fruit-forward nose, without losing the more obscure savoury notes, like oak and earth. It’s cool climate works with the vines to create flavourful and aromatic Pinots, however, the Yarra Valley is no one trick pony. With a range of elevations, aspects and soil type on offer, from winemaker to winemaker you will see a full selection of flavours coming from the region.

Our pick? The Giant Steps 2024 Pinot Noir – smooth and lingering with silky tannins, this elegant and well-balanced wine will leave you with notes of ripe red fruit, roasted herbs and subtle spice.

Mornington Peninsula

A quick trip south from the Yarra Valley finds you the Mornington Peninsula, renowned for its Pinot Noir, for whose production takes over half of the total vineyards in the region. The third largest Pinot Noir region in Australia, it is home to over 9% of the countries Pinot plantings, with a lot of these vineyards turning to organic or biodynamic practices. With a similar cool climate to the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula Pinots are known for their complexity, balance, and ageing potential – with the bonus addition of ocean proximity and rich, diverse soil types in the area to add to their complex nature. Light to medium in body, with classic Pinot Noir silky texture, these wines are coveted for their exceptional ability to age and develop even more complex and surprising tasting notes, as any fine wine should.

If you’re a budding collector looking for something to add to the cellar – and Burgundy is too far – a Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir should definitely be on your list.

Our pick? Stonier’s 2023 Pinot Noir – Boasting fragrant notes of dark cherry, strawberry and red liquorice, this light to medium bodied pour has a refreshingly acidic, earthy finish.

Macedon Ranges

A quick trip northwest of the Melbourne CBD lives the home to one of Australia’s most renowned Pinot Noir regions, the Macedon Ranges. A unique landscape, from the range’s high altitude to sandy loams and granite soils, they’re known for producing unique and distinctive Pinot Noirs. Boasting the traditional fruit-forward flavours we know and love from a Pinot, those produced here are refreshingly acidic, with delicate, fruitful aromas.

While Pinot Noir is the star of this region, their diverse cool-climate also produces highly sought after Chardonnay, Riesling and Sparkling’s – making this a must-visit for any wine lover, self-proclaimed or otherwise. Whether you’re after a winter warmer, or something to age gracefully in the cellar, you can’t go past a Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir.

Our pick? The 2023 Shadow Fax Pinot Noir – A medium-bodied Pinot with rich tannins and refreshing acidity, enjoy notes of jammy red fruit, citrus rinds and a lingering oaky finish.

Geelong

The gateway city, Geelong is home to beautiful stretches of beach, a thriving entertainment scene, and of course, an assortment of wine subregions producing complex and refined Pinot Noirs. From the Moorabool Valley to Bellarine Peninsula, all the way to the Surf Coast, these subregions of Geelong offer distinct and varied environments, producing unique and sought-after Pinots. Often more aromatic than most Pinots, they take on sweet cherry and raspberry notes, with subtle earthy and oak influence.

Home to over 60 wineries and 50+ cellar doors, many emphasize a family-owned and operated attitude, creating generations of wine aficionados and producers who have assisted in giving Geelong the reputation and recognition they deserve. With plenty to see and explore, a winery tour of Geelong is one we’re adding to our list.

Our pick? Irrewarra’s 2023 Pinot Noir – Made by revered winemaker Nick Far, this elegant style wine has red fruit forward note, an impeccable structure, with good depth and a long finish.

Tasmania

A quick trip on the ferry takes us to our next must-do destination for Pinot Noir, Tasmania. Often seen as almost an international destination by those who haven’t visited, we promise it’s worth the trip. Gaining recognition as one of Australia’s premier Pinot Noir regions, it is known for its ability to age gracefully, developing fuller, nuanced flavours and aromas as it does. A diverse region, its cool climate boasts clay loam and granite soils, as well as cool Southerly Ocean influence, it creates the perfect environment for Pinot Noir production. Tasmanian Pinot typically displays bright, acidic flavours, with red berries, cherries, and spicy notes, producing a light to medium body with fantastic structure and balance. Regions such as the Tamar Valley, the Coal River Valley, and Pipers River are responsible for producing a majority of the states Pinot Noir.

And if we haven’t convinced you enough to take the trip, exploring Tasmanian Pinot Noir is unlike any other destination in the world. All located within a short drive of each other, you can sip and swirl your way throughout the region – we would recommend roping in a driver though!

Our pick? Decades 2023 Pinot Noir – A new project from renowned winemaker Steve Flamsteed from a well-established vineyard. This pinot has a great depth of flavour, with strong structure and a mineral finish.

Central Otago

While we can date Central Otago’s wine producing region to the late 19th century, Pinot Noir began production in this area in only the late 1980s. Australia’s closest neighbour, we like to think we’re similar in many ways, but the Pinot Noir being produced here likes to taunt otherwise. Known for producing intense, structured wines with ripe and dark fruit flavours such as black cherry and plum, these wines are influenced by the region’s warmer days, and mineral-rich soils – quite different to the light, red-fruit forward Pinots we know and love. With refreshing acidity and strong tannins, Central Otago Pinots are a perfect option for ageing.

A compelling addition to any cellar, explore the unique difference Central Otago brings to traditional Pinot Noirs.

Our pick? Two Paddocks 2023 Pinot Noir – Owned by renowned actor and pinotphile Sam Neill, this is quintessential modern Central Otago pinot. Avoiding the fruit bomb characteristics of many others, this leaves you with a full flavoured pour, without the common overripeness.

Each of these regions offers a unique interpretation of Pinot Noir, giving you the chance to explore the many faces of this noble grape. Visit our shop to experience these wines, where we’ve carefully curated a selection from each region to showcase their distinctive styles.