When it comes to Pinot Noir, the first place that naturally springs to mind is France’s revered Burgundy region — the spiritual home and benchmark for this delicate and notoriously challenging grape. And with good reason.
A quick glance through Wine-Searcher’s database of the world’s most sought-after Pinot Noirs reveals that Burgundy dominates overwhelmingly. To find just one highly rated Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy, you need to scroll through at least one and a half pages; to gather a list of ten, you must scroll through multiple pages amid a sea of over 175 Burgundy entries.
Yet, tucked away beyond the well-trodden vineyards of Burgundy, a handful of exceptional Pinot Noirs from far-flung and surprising regions have quietly earned their place among the globe’s most coveted examples of the grape. These wines not only highlight the adaptability of Pinot Noir but also showcase diverse terroirs and winemaking philosophies from continents apart.
The World's Most Wanted Pinot Noir on Wine-Searcher:
| Wine Name | Score | Ave Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weingut Daniel & Marta Gantenbein Pinot Noir | 93 | $269 | |
| Akarua Pinot Noir | 90 | $23 | |
| Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir | 93 | $138 | |
| Occidental-Kistler Vineyards Freestone-Occidental Pinot Noir | 93 | $83 | |
| Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir | 92 | $131 | |
| Domaine Takahiko Nana-Tsu-Mori Pinot Noir | 93 | $487 | |
| Bass Phillip Premium Pinot Noir | 93 | $270 | |
| Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir | 94 | $418 | |
| Bischofliches Weingut Rudesheim Assmannshausen Pinot Noir Trocken | 91 | $21 | |
| Ata Rangi Pinot Noir | 93 | $67 |
A Global Journey for Pinot Noir
While Burgundy undoubtedly remains the spiritual and qualitative heartland of Pinot Noir, the grape’s influence and cultivation have spread impressively worldwide. From the Alpine terroirs of Switzerland to the Pacific coasts of California and Australia, to the volcanic soils of Japan’s Hokkaido and the cool winds of New Zealand, Pinot Noir has proven to be a global grape, capable of expressing a stunning variety of climates and winemaking styles.
The wines on this list reflect not only quality but also diversity, proving that while Burgundy might set the standard, exceptional Pinot Noir can indeed come from many unexpected corners of the world.
Source: Wine-Searcher