How to Enjoy a Quality Bottle of Pinot Noir without Breaking the Bank

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From Burgundy to Oregon, just about any wine region in the world is growing Pinot Noir. 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 explore exceptional Pinot Noir. 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 Pinot Noir Bottles

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

$18.19 Vivino

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.

$12.99 Vivino

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.

$11.99 Vivino

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

$ Varies Wine-Searcher

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

$ Varies Wine-Searcher

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

$25.99 Total Wine & More

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.

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Published on January 17, 2023

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