Celebrating International Pinot Noir Day with BC Pinot
The Burgundian Queen is pretty much universally regarded as the most elegant of all wines. Whether you love to quaff Meiomi or Romanée-Conti, anything by the name Pinot Noir just feels fancy.
Poetry and romanticism inevitably spring forth when Pinot Noir is discussed. But I’m more of a realist. Like any wine, Pinot Noir can soar to ethereal heights, or be disappointing crap.
What makes it particularly fascinating is its transparency. Pinot Noir has a remarkable ability to reveal where it was grown, how it was farmed, and the choices the winemaker made. Shortcomings show through, but so do skill, exceptional fruit, and the character of a great site. Few other red grapes are quite so revealing.
That helps explain why winemakers love it. Pinot Noir requires considerable care in the vineyard and winery, and its relatively delicate nature leaves little room for hiding mistakes. It is also capable of expressing an extraordinary range of styles, from fresh, fruity and immediately drinkable to structured, earthy and age-worthy. The better examples can command serious (sometimes astronomical) prices.
And yet Pinot Noir is not some exotic newcomer to the wine world. It has been cultivated for centuries. Over its long history it has given rise to several familiar varieties, including Chardonnay, Aligoté, and Gamay, while Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are mutations of Pinot Noir that produce different skin colours. In some respects, it could be considered the grand-maman of modern wine.
There are also countless Pinot Noir clones, each with subtly different characteristics relating to ripening, aromatics, phenolics, tannin structure and yield. Choosing the right material for a particular vineyard, then combining different clones and farming techniques, can be enormously rewarding. Pinot Noir is demanding, but it repays careful attention.
In BC and abroad, Pinot Noir is also used for rosé and sparkling wine — including Champagne — but I'm focusing on still red Pinot Noir.
Photo Credit: Wines of BC
A natural fit for BC
Pinot Noir's popularity in British Columbia is hardly surprising. It is an early-budding and early-ripening variety that performs best in cool to moderate climates, where it can ripen gradually and fully without becoming overripe. That also makes it vulnerable to spring frost, while its tightly packed clusters increase the risk of fungal disease. Good vineyard management is essential.
As of 2026, there are 1,655 acres of Pinot Noir planted in BC, making it the province's 2nd most planted red wine grape. Plantings increased by a remarkable 52 percent between 2008 and 2022. More importantly, Pinot Noir is the most planted grape variety in virtually every cooler wine-growing region of the province. Only in two regions - the South Okanagan and the Similkameen Valley - is Pinot Noir acreage overtaken by varieties better suited to the heat.
It dominates plantings on both sides of Okanagan and Skaha lakes, from Lake Country and Kelowna through Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden and Okanagan Falls. It is also the leading variety in the Thompson Valley, Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley and the Gulf Islands. Tasting wines from these different regions offers a fascinating glimpse into just how broadly Pinot Noir can express itself in BC.
That's an impressive geographical footprint for a grape that is supposedly difficult to grow. Surely this provincial matriarch deserves some kind of trophy.
And BC Pinot Noir isn't merely popular with growers. It has been collecting hardware, too. BC producers have performed exceptionally well at national competitions, including the National Wine Awards of Canada and the All Canadian Wine Championships. In 2025, all five Platinum medals awarded in the Pinot Noir category at the National Wine Awards went to BC wines. The success extends beyond Canada. At the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, BC Pinot Noir earned two Gold, four Silver, and ten Bronze medals.
Those wines aren't coming from one magical corner of the Okanagan, either. Award-winning examples have emerged from Vancouver Island, Kelowna, Naramata, Kamloops, Lake Country, Oliver and Okanagan Falls. The world is paying attention.
Perhaps the most compelling case for BC Pinot Noir is that our broad spectrum of styles and expressions allows us to explore this variety quite thoroughly while remaining loyally local. Sure, exceptional bottles are relatively few, but they’re here - and so are plenty of very good ones. That makes the search itself exciting, particularly if discovery is the focus.
What does Pinot Noir actually taste like?
At its simplest, Pinot Noir's appeal is its combination of light-to-medium body, bright acidity, fragrant fruit and relatively delicate tannins. The predominant personality is usually red fruit: strawberries, cherries, red currants, raspberries and cranberries, often accompanied by floral notes of violet or rose.
As climates get warmer and fruit gets riper, those flavours can move towards darker cherry and wild berry. Oak can contribute baking spice, toast, hazelnut and smoke, while bottle age gradually brings more savoury characteristics: earth, dried leaves, mushrooms and stewed or dried fruit.
But there is no single Pinot Noir template.
Some producers want freshness and drinkability, emphasizing bright fruit and juicy acidity. Others seek greater structure and complexity through lower yields, riper fruit, extraction, oak maturation and bottle age. Cooler sites can produce leaner, more acidic wines, while warmer sites can produce richer, more powerful examples. Producers generally need to be judicious with new oak, as Pinot Noir's delicate nature can easily be overwhelmed by wood.
The winemaking toolbox is broad. Because Pinot Noir has thin skins and therefore relatively modest colour and tannin, producers may use cold soaking or pre-fermentation maceration to increase extraction. Higher fermentation temperatures can also help. Some destem the entire crop, while others retain a proportion of whole clusters to add floral and red-fruited character.
Photo credit: Wines of BC
And then there is semi-carbonic maceration, which can produce an entirely different expression: bright, fresh and playful, sometimes with notes of kirsch, cinnamon and bubblegum.
All of these choices matter because Pinot Noir is so transparent. Change the vineyard, the clone, the harvest date, the extraction, the oak or the fermentation technique, and the result can be dramatically different.
Pinot at the table
Food pairing with Pinot Noir is fairly straightforward, and depends largely on the style of the wine. To start, here are a few pairings beginning with P: pizza, prosciutto, pappardelle ai funghi, paella, pakoras, pupus, and procrastination.
Lighter, leaner wines are excellent with pâtés, terrines, grilled vegetables, rabbit, duck and salmon. Fruity, juicy Pinots are remarkably versatile with BBQ ribs, char siu, bao, seared tuna and roasted vegetables. Richer examples can handle lamb, steak, sausage, game, glazed ham, mushroom risotto and baked Camembert, while mature, savoury Pinot Noir is particularly happy alongside game birds and truffles.
I recommend giving these wines a light chill before serving. Pinot Noir's elegance doesn't require room temperature, and a little refrigeration can make the fresher examples especially compelling.
The bottom line
Pinot Noir is a wine that will never go out of fashion. It's simply too delicious and versatile. It occupies a niche like no other red wine: not too heavy, rarely too alcoholic, capable of extraordinary complexity, and just as enjoyable tonight as it can be after years in the cellar.
And how fortunate are we that Pinot Noir performs so spectacularly in BC? At least until the rest of the world catches on, we get to drink virtually all of it to ourselves.
Reviews
Here are 15 BC Pinot Noirs representing a range of regions, styles, and price points.
Review methodology: Wines may be submitted by wineries for editorial consideration. All scored wines are tasted blind whenever practical. Scores reflect my independent assessment of quality and are never provided in exchange for samples.
Stoneboat Vineyards 2023 Reserve Pinot Noir
Mostly clone 667 is used here, aging for 18 months in 50% new French oak. This barrel program sets the stage for a more robust, heavier style that pairs tart cherry, cranberry, plum and black raspberry with toasted baking spices and dried clay. Tart acidity and moderate tannic grip provide lift and energy to a woody palate, which features some dried fruit undertones and finishes on spice and vanilla. Ready to drink now.
MT Rating: 88/100
Stoneboat Vineyards 2023 Valley Pinot Noir
The Valley series features small-lot forays into unique Okanagan expressions. Made from 100% clone 667 from a grower partner, this tasting room exclusive is aged 18 months in neutral French oak. The colour is a very pale vermillion, with wild and savoury aromas of rosehip, rooibos, and dried leaves adding intensity and depth to the smoky sour cherry and huckleberry core. Soft, threadlike tannins are woven into the approachably spicy palate, accentuated with ripe acidity and a savoury finish. Two new blocks of Pinot Noir were recently planted for the Valley series, meaning this will be an estate-produced wine in the near future.
MT Rating: 89/100
Robin Ridge Winery 2022 Pinot Noir (Silver, Savour NW Awards)
Less commonly grown in the Similkameen Valley, this Pinot Noir from organic producer Robin Ridge in Keremeos offers a competent balance of ripe fruit and savoury spice. There is an earthy smoke veil on the nose, beneath which lie juicy blackberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and cigar aromas. Mild acidity and silky tannins provide a supple structure, with ripe berries and smoke on the finish. Good value for a BC Pinot at $26.99.
MT Rating: 88/100
Moraine Winery 2023 Estate Pinot Noir Sophia Vineyard (Bronze, All Canadian Wine Championships; Silver, National Wine Awards of Canada)
Pretty aromatics are the hallmark of Moraine, and this wine is no exception. Fermented in 1-ton vats, this single vineyard Pinot Noir from the Naramata bench combines fleshier black plum, dark earth, and mulberry aromas with bright cherry and delicate spice. Lingering fresh acidity and ripe tannins further animate the palate with a structure suited for further aging. Despite alcohol at 14.5% this remains fresh and lively from front to back. The coexistence of the meaty/airy dichotomy here makes for an intriguing expression.
MT Rating: 90/100
40 Knots Winery 2024 Pinot Noir Coastal
Comox Coastal has not yet been approved as a sub-GI, but it remains an exciting stage particularly for Burgundian varieties. This Pinot Noir is fermented whole-berry and aged in terracotta amphorae. Aromas are predominantly sour red fruit - cranberry, red currant, sour plum - with savoury elements of rosehip, dried leaves, potpourri, and subtle smoke providing additional complexity. The palate is tart and saline, lighter bodied with merely 10.9% abv, and feathery tannins. 40 knots is one to watch as BC’s coastal wine identity emerges.
MT Rating: 88/100
See Ya Later Ranch 2025 Pinot Noir (Silver, National Wine Awards of Canada)
An easy-going Pinot Noir at good value, this wine is aged for 4 months in French and American oak for a lightly spiced and approachable style. The warm and balanced 2025 vintage is therefore pleasantly transparent. Vibrant cranberry, cherry, red currant, and a little damp forest funk provide the foundational character. With velvety tannins and a juicy texture, this is a solid summer patio Pinot.
MT Rating: 87/100
Larch Hills Winery 2023 Pinot Noir
A small-production wine blending Pinot Noir 50/50 from BC and Washington, this wine aligns with Larch Hills’ house style, emphasizing approachable spice and gentle sweetness. Fermentation is in stainless steel with aging in medium toast French oak. Aromas of sour cherry, rosehip, spice, and sarsaparilla take the lead, with a quiet element of damp forest earth. The palate is approachable with soft acidity and softer tannins, finishing on sweet fruit and toasty flavours. A very enjoyable Pinot with considerable complexity in an every-day package, at very good value for approximately $20.
MT Rating: 88/100
Black Widow Winery 2022 Pinot Noir
The second release of a reserve Pinot Noir from this Naramata estate, this single vineyard Pinot Noir is aged 17 months in neutral French oak, and blended with a small percentage of Gamay. There is a slight haze to the pale garnet colour in the glass. Pomegranate, cranberry, cherry, red liquorice, old cedar, spice, and soil are presented elegantly on the nose and palate. Acidity is ripe and fresh, and together with delicate tannins, highlights the fresh and agile style that is well suited to opening now or laying down for further development.
MT Rating: 89/100
Roche Wine 2024 Pinot Noir
Most 2024 wines from the Okanagan were crafted here using grapes or juice sourced from the US after extensive freeze damage crippled BC vineyards. Roche sourced fruit for this Pinot Noir from the famed Dundee Hills in Oregon. The style is ripe and fruity with damp earth and spice layered beneath plump loganberry, raspberry, and cherry. Fine tannins and juicy acidity form an irresistible structure and the bright, precise flavours last through a long finish. Roche definitely knows what they are doing no matter where the fruit is from.
MT Rating: 90/100
La Frenz Winery 2024 Pinot Noir Desperation Hill Vineyard (Bronze, National Wine Awards of Canada)
Rare indeed are estate-grown BC wines from 2024. La Frenz was able to produce this single-vineyard Naramata Bench Pinot Noir despite widespread freeze damage in the valley. A mix of clones and soil types were wild fermented separately with 85% destemmed and 15% whole cluster, aged 10 months in 10% new French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The gentle style shows refinement and savoury character, with sour cherry, stewed plum, and dried cranberry supported by cedar spice, soya sauce, and damp earth. Fine acidity and chalky tannins provide further levity, with a modest finish of tart fruit and spice.
MT Rating: 88/100
Moon Curser Vineyards 2024 Confiscated Pinot Noir
‘Confiscated’ wines are made in Osoyoos from fruit sourced outside BC for the 2024 vintage as estate vineyards recovered from extensive freeze damage. This Pinot Noir - a variety Moon Curser hasn’t produced since 2012 - is sourced from Clos Chevalle Vineyard, an elevated site on the south shore of Lake Chelan in Washington. Fermentation of whole berries is in stainless steel followed by 12 months in French and American oak - 22% new, the remainder neutral. Fragrant potpourri, sour cherry, and mulberry aromas with woody spice are mirrored on a warm and slightly robust palate of soft but grippy tannins and ripe acidity. The sweet fruit flavours carry out a satisfying finish.
MT Rating: 88/100
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery 2024 International Series Pinot Noir
With no crop in 2024, Gehringer Brothers purchased fruit from a California grower for this International Series release. A post-fermentation maceration is done to deepen complexity and soften tannins. The profile of ripe marionberry, raspberry, cherry, damp earth, cedar, vanilla, and warm baking spices is fresh and balanced, somehow capturing California ripeness and Gehringer Brothers identity. The long finish is characterized by incense and spiced fruit. A cut above just your every day Pinot, at superb value ($18.49). This underpins the success of this Oliver estate, celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.
MT Rating: 89/100
Solvero Wines 2022 Pinot Noir (Bronze, Decanter World Wine Awards; Bronze, National Wine Awards of Canada)
Earning international acclaim for this young Summerland winery, this Pinot Noir (now sold out) is a mix of clones fermented whole-berry in 1-ton fermenters with 30% whole clusters. Aging is in 30% new French oak for 12 months. The cherry, pomegranate, and plum aromas float along with savoury spice, rosehip, red tea, and earthy mushroom. Firm structure of round acidity and polished tannins own the palate, where modest flavour intensity persists through an elegant, floral finish.
MT Rating: 90/100
Bench 1775 Winery 2022 Pinot Noir
Cold-soaked Naramata estate fruit harvested in late November is native fermented before basket pressing to barrel (40% new French oak) for 12 months’ elevage. This dense Pinot Noir bears the Bench 1775 signature pronounced fruit intensity and compelling ripeness. Dusty red berries, sour fruit, black tea, and chocolate covered cherries are met with port-like aromas of spice-raisin cookie and liquorice. Lively swells of acidity on the palate keep this in Pinot Noir territory, and at this point it’s ready for aged cheese and semi-sweet chocolate desserts. Although this vintage is sold out, the 2023 won Gold at this year’s All Canadian Wine Championships.
MT Rating: 88/100
Stags Hollow Winery 2023 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek (Silver, National Wine Awards of Canada)
This single-vineyard Pinot Noir is proving to be a consistent winner for Stags Hollow. Whole-berry fermentation begins after a 4-day cold soak, and the wine ages 12 months in 17% new French oak. Vibrancy and focus are notable among the pronounced aromas of dusty sour cherries, rosehip, raspberry, and non-fruit elements of rosemary and graphite. There is ample acidity and delicate tannins, providing serious enough structure that still lets the flavours do the heavy lifting. All this, and a lengthy finish, help solidify Okanagan Falls as a place for - among others styles - serious Pinot Noir.
MT Rating: 91/100
Blog post written by: Matt Tinney, Contributor, uncorkBC