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From Burgundy to Oregon, just about any wine region in the world is growing Pinot Noir. But this might be surprising considering the grapes are difficult to grow, are sensitive to temperature and are prone to disease. But when treated right, this red grape can produce beautiful bottles that are sought after around the world and command hundreds of dollars. Thankfully, you don’t need to break the bank to find and explore exceptional Pinot Noirs. Here, our Wine Enthusiast Tasting Department breaks down the bottles that all made our Best Buys list and come in under $30.
The Best Under $30 Bottles
Best Rosé: Ryder Estate 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (California)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This light, delicate and well-balanced wine offers fresh strawberry and raspberry flavors, a nice touch of crisp acidity and a lingering, fruity finish. —Jim Gordon
Most Sustainable: McManis 2021 Certified Sustainable Estate Grown Pinot Noir (Lodi)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This warm, generous and rounded wine has a relaxed, broad texture embracing mulled plums, cherries and subtle vanilla and cinnamon notes. Full in body and light in tannins, it’s easy to drink. —J.G.
Most Consistent Quality: The Pinot Project 2020 Pinot Noir (California)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Beautiful, fresh fruit flavors light up this no-nonsense wine, delivering the varietal’s classic red and black cherries, along with light cinnamon nuances and a good, lightly tannic texture. It’s easy to quaff and interesting, too. —J.G.
Best off-the-Beaten-Path Pick: Burgozone 2020 Côte du Danube Pinot Noir (Danube Plain)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This light cherry red Bulgarian Pinot Noir has aromas of black cherry and red raspberry with top notes of tobacco and saddle leather. It is soft on entry with flavors of cherry vanilla, tobacco leaf and a bright splash of ripe macerated cherries on the finish. —Jeff Jenssen
Most Juicy: Barton & Guestier 2021 Bistro Pinot Noir (Vin de France)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Juicy raspberries and cherries with a touch of spice are featured on the nose of this wine. Ripe cherry, raspberry and cassis bounce off the palate. There is crisp acidity and good structure. Enjoy now. —Jacy Topps
Best Boxed Wine: Sokol Blosser 2020 Evolution Pinot Noir (Oregon)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
In an eco-friendly box wine format that holds the equivalent of two regular bottles, this brings the price down to about as low as you will find for any vintage-dated Oregon Pinot Noir. The quality is exceptional given the cost and the troubled vintage. It tastes like true, unadorned Oregon Pinot, with tart berries, cranberries and cherries. The tannins are ripe and balanced, and the finish clean and persistent. —Paul Gregutt
FAQs
Is Pinot Noir Red or White?
This variety is a red grape that produces red wine or rosé. However, the white grapes Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc are mutations of the red Pinot Noir grape and produce white wine. It is also often blended with Chardonnay and other white grapes to produce the sparkling wine Champagne.
Is Pinot Noir Sweet?
Pinot Noir is a dry wine, so it is not sweet. It has medium-to-high acidity and medium tannins. However, this grape lends itself to a whole host of expressions, ranging from powerful and fruity (think raspberry and cherry) to earthy (think black pepper or deep sappy red cherry notes).
Should Pinot Noir Be Chilled?
Typically, you’ll want to serve this red between 54–60°F. This is the perfect temperature for all of the wine’s aromas to really pop. Be sure to serve it in a Burgundy glass too.
What Food Pairs Well With Pinot Noir?
Naturally, this red wine goes well with garlic and onion so sauces, stews and braises are excellent pairings. You can also serve a glass with grilled mushrooms or meats like chicken or steak.
If you think the dish can benefit from Pinot’s crushed black pepper notes, give it a try! But at the end of the day, it’s all about your wine and food pairing preferences.
Why You Should Trust Us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
