Pinot Noir

There are plenty of great reasons to buy from Laithwaites. Here are just a few:

• Trust – we’ve been a family wine merchant for 50 years, with over 400,000 happy customers. Our customer service is second to none – reflected in our ‘excellent’ Trustpilot rating.
• Quality – every year our team of buyers taste 40,000 bottles to bring you the best. Just 800 (that’s 2%) make the grade.
• Range – our buyers don’t just sit in an office and make phone calls. They visit wineries all over the world – often small family cellars – to bring you authentic, handcrafted wines that you won’t find in your local supermarket.
• Convenience – no need to struggle to the car with bulky bottles. We deliver straight to your door.
• Peace of mind – with our no-quibble guarantee, you never need to worry about getting a bad bottle. If you don’t like a wine – for whatever reason – you don’t pay for it.  

And last but not least … we’re committed to leading the way in becoming more sustainable in all areas of the business. That’s why we were named Decanter’sGreen Champion of the Year in 2023.

The day of your delivery will depend on which option you’ve chosen at checkout.  

• For a standard delivery, we will deliver your order within three working days. Delivery to the Scottish Highlands, some other areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore islands can take an extra few days.
• Usual delivery times are between 07.00 and 21.00.
• You can select Next-day or Named-day delivery at checkout – but do bear in mind we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

For the best experience we recommend you subscribe to our Unlimited service. A one-off payment of £29.99 entitles you to free delivery for a year – including free Next-day delivery. There’s no minimum order – you’ll get free delivery even on a single bottle. And you can get delivery to multiple addresses, so it’s perfect for gifting!

Yes! It’s quick and easy to join our Wine Club.

You’ll start discovering new wines for less right away – and once you’re in you can easily tailor your subscription to your needs.

Want to skip or delay a delivery? No problem. Fancy a different style? We’ve a wide range to choose from. Want to swap in some of your favourite wines? It’s easy to do online. We’ll send a reminder email the week before delivery so you’ll have time to make any changes you like.

Learn more about laithwaites wine subscriptions

We want you to enjoy every bottle you buy from us. If you are not completely satisfied with any wine, for any reason, just let us know and you’ll receive a refund.  

Plus, we always want you to receive exactly what you need. If we deliver a case and it’s not wanted, just email us at customerservice@laithwaites.com and we’ll take care of it.

Pinot Noir is a red wine grape native to the Burgundy region of France, where it’s sometimes referred to as “red Burgundy”. Burgundy’s famous Côte d’Or area produces some of the world’s most expensive and collectable wines, including those from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

But its charm hasn’t been confined to just one place. You’ll find it flourishing in other European spots, such as Germany (where it goes by the name Spätburgunder), Switzerland, and even Northern Italy.

Venturing further, Pinot Noir can be found in the vineyards of North America, especially in Oregon and California, where winemakers create Pinot Noirs that even give the classic Burgundies a run for their money. Further afield, you’ll find Pinot Noir in Chile, South Australia, New Zealand, and the cool terrains of Argentina’s Patagonia.

Growing Pinot Noir is no walk in the park. Its delicate, thin skin demands attention and care. This grape loves the cool, which helps it maintain its signature light and refreshing profile. While it’s a fan of sunshine, it’s not too keen on intense heat, making sheltered valleys and coastal areas its favourite spots to grow.

Pinot Noir offers a light to medium body, making it distinctively smooth with just a hint of tannins and a pleasant touch of acidity.

Unlike its bolder red wine cousin Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir leans towards the softer side, making it an easy-drinking wine. Sip a traditional European Pinot Noir, and you’ll notice its silky texture and lingering finish, often bringing out those mature, leafy flavours as it ages.

Pinot Noirs from other regions have a velvety feel, showcasing less of that fresh, 'green' character and more of the ripe fruit notes we love.

The climate and location where Pinot Noir grapes are grown can affect their flavours, but the wine’s age has an even bigger impact. Pinot Noir’s colour darkens as it ages, and its flavours and aromas deepen. Young Pinot Noirs have strong fruit and floral flavours, including:

• Cherry
• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Redcurrant
• Violet
• Hibiscus

But as Pinot Noir ages, it begins to develop deep, savoury flavours like:

• Mushroom
• Game
• Forest floor
• Clove

Pinot Noir is a top pick if you’re after a light yet captivating wine. For those craving more depth, consider a mature red Burgundy or a Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. If you lean towards a richer taste, California’s take on Pinot Noir brings forward luscious textures and ripe flavours. For good value Pinot Noir, look to Germany and New Zealand.

Thanks to its friendly acidity and subtle tannins, Pinot Noir is quite the versatile partner at the dinner table.

It’s a natural fit for poultry dishes, from roast chicken to duck. It's also good with pork, beef and game dishes. A classic pairing is Beef Bourguignon which celebrates its French heritage beautifully.

Younger Pinot Noirs, with their light flavours, are a dream with umami-rich dishes, especially those starring mushrooms or hearty root veggies.

Discover more food and wine pairing tips.

Serving Pinot Noir

To truly let Pinot Noir shine, consider decanting it about 30 minutes before you pour.

With its broad base and narrowing rim, a Burgundy wine glass is ideal for capturing all those enticing aromas.

While Pinot Noir can be slightly chilled at around 15°C, it’s equally delightful at room temperature, roughly 18-20°C.