NORFOLK VINEYARD LAUNCHES FIRST EVER 100% PINOT NOIR STILL WINE ON INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR DAY
A leading Norfolk vineyard has chosen International Pinot Noir Day (Sunday 18th August) to unveil its first ever still red wine made from the grape – which is best known for being the principal grape in red Burgundy wine, as well as one of the three grapes which make up Champagne.
Chet Valley Vineyard has launched ‘Chaffinch’, a 100% Pinot Noir still red wine, following a stunning harvest of the grape in 2023, which saw a 50% increase in yield over the previous year.
The vineyard, in Bergh Apton, has seven acres planted with the famous grape variety, which is also used in its renowned Traditional Method sparkling wines and in its popular Redwing rosé still wine. This is the first vintage that a still red wine has been made from Pinot Noir, with just 1,000 bottles produced.
“Our Chaffinch Pinot Noir is a dry, fresh, light red wine with spicy, peppery notes on the nose and flavours of blackberry from the fruit and vanilla from the oak it has been aged in,” said winemaker John Hemmant.
“Pinot Noir is an important grape for us, with about a third of our acreage laid down to the grape. The new wine was fermented on its skins but only for four days, which makes it a light, summer wine with a very light tannin structure.
“Our plantings of Pinot Noir really came to maturity in 2023, and hence both yields and the quality were very good indeed. As a Burgundy lover, I have always wanted to make a still red Pinot Noir, and we couldn’t think of a better day to unveil it than International Pinot Noir Day.”
Pinot Noir is now the UK’s most widely planted grape variety, accounting for 31.5% of vines, according to WinesGB.
Chet Valley Vineyard’s ‘Chaffinch’ Pinot Noir is available to buy online at www.chetvineyard.co.uk, price £19.