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- Food & Beverage
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- DrinkingLiquor
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- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Every August 18
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Pinot Noir Day on August 18 invites wine lovers to celebrate one of the most revered and versatile red wines globally. Originally cultivated in France, this delicate grape is now enjoyed from vineyards across the world. Discover its nuanced flavors, explore its rich history, and find the perfect bottle to uncork today!
Want to sponsor Pinot Noir Day? Learn how
Expected Pinot Noir Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that Pinot Noir Day brings delightful deals from retailers and restaurants. Look for discounts at major wine stores like Total Wine & More and BevMo!, with special offers on bottles from various regions. Online wine clubs such as Winc and Firstleaf often feature curated Pinot Noir selections at reduced prices. Local wine bars and upscale restaurants may offer special tasting flights or pairing menus. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s often highlight their Pinot Noir selections. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 18 approaches.
Platform Guide for Pinot Noir Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #PinotNoirDay. Share photos of your favorite Pinot Noir bottle or a delicious food pairing.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #PinotNoirDay. Film a ‘Pinot Noir 101’ video, explaining its characteristics or a DIY wine and cheese board.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #PinotNoirDay. Share your favorite Pinot Noir memory or a recipe that pairs perfectly with it.
Pinot Noir Day Hero
André Tchelistcheff
History of Pinot Noir Day
Pinot Noir derives its name from the grape species from which it is made; it is derived from the French words meaning ‘pine’ and ‘black.’ As far back as the 1st century, Pinot Noir and its consumption can be found in the regions of Burgundy, France. Today, the grape species can be found all over the world, its roots in French history are an important part of the history of Europe and the culture of wine today.
When invading Romans arrived in Ghaul they were impressed by the rich quality, texture, and unique flavors of ripe red fruit, cherries, toast, and spices. The grape, mostly grown in the Burgundy region of France, became a coveted item to the Romans for more than 300 years. When the Romans established vineyards and began to farm the grape commercially, it soon became the wine of choice among the nobility and was soon the grape of choice grown by the Catholic Church, harvested, and used in religious settings.
The favored grape species and wine, Pinot Noir, became a mainstay wine for the Catholic Church for centuries to come. Pinot Noir vineyards owned by the Catholic Church remained under the control of the Catholic Church, in France, until the French Revolution in 1789, which brought an end to the aristocratic-only access to the wine. The grape has been exported far and wide, however, it is an extremely difficult grape to cultivate successfully, conditions have to be perfect, and while there is a population of Pinot Noir grapes grown on every continent in the world, the French variant seems to attract the most prestige and admiration.
Pinot Noir Day timeline
Cisterian Monks become the authority on Christendom, their religious position expresses that hard labor placed one as close to God as possible, and thus, they begin growing and cultivating Pinot Noir on the rocky slopes of Burgundy.
A popular French grape and wine in Burgundy are outlawed in the region by Duke Phillipe without any competition, and a demand for good wine makes Pinot Noir the most popular wine among the locals.
Spanish Padres from Mexico bring the first variant of Pinot Noir to California.
The film, “Sideways,” does well at the Box Office and inadvertently makes Pinot Noir popular thanks to strong, positive references to the French wine.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Pinot Noir Day
Local wine shops can host in-store tastings, offering discounts on featured Pinot Noir bottles and educating customers on regional differences. Restaurants and bistros can craft special prix fixe menus with Pinot Noir pairings, highlighting its versatility with various cuisines. Wine bars might offer flights showcasing different styles of Pinot Noir, from light and earthy to fruit-forward and bold. Consider collaborating with local food purveyors for cheese and charcuterie pairings.
Pinot Noir Day FAQs
When is Pinot Noir Day?
Pinot Noir Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, August 18, inviting wine enthusiasts to uncork their favorite bottles mid-week.
How popular is Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir consistently ranks among the top ten most popular red wines globally, celebrated for its versatility and food-friendliness. Its delicate flavor profile appeals to a broad range of palates.
Where is Pinot Noir primarily grown?
Pinot Noir’s ancestral home is Burgundy, France, where it produces some of the world’s most expensive wines. However, it thrives in cooler climates globally, including Oregon, California (Sonoma Coast), New Zealand, and Germany.
What makes Pinot Noir unique among red wines?
Pinot Noir is unique due to its thin skin, which contributes to its lighter color, lower tannin, and delicate, nuanced flavors of red fruit, earth, and spice. It’s often described as the ‘heartbreak grape’ because it’s notoriously difficult to grow.
Pinot Noir Day Activities
Have a glass of Pinot Noir
Pour yourself a healthy glass, this is the way to start. Sit back, savor and relax.
Host a wine tasting
A great way to have friends over, we suggest that each person brings a different bottle of their favorite wine, and that way, you can “taste” all night long. Pinot Noir pairs well with grilled salmon or tuna.
Give a bottle as a gift
Remind someone special that they are important to you. Let them celebrate today however they choose to, but make sure you buy a great bottle of Pinot Noir for them.
5 Things About Pinot Noir That You Might Not Know
There are many variants
Today, over 40 variants of Pinot Noir exist, globally.
The Pope wouldn’t return home to Italy
Pope Urban V refused to return to Rome in the Middle Ages, where you just couldn’t get the wine of the same quality as that found in Burgundy.
It can’t take the heat
Pinot Noir grows comfortably in cooler climates — the grape is “overcooked” when its thin skin is exposed to too much heat and sun.
France grows the most
Throughout the entire world, France has the most hectares of Pinot Noir Vineyards — 29,738 hectares.
It’s known as the “heartbreak grape”
Yes, it has been popularly referred to as such, but not for the reason that you may think. Sure many people have turned to a good pinot during a breakup, but it's actually because of how difficult it is to harvest a successful crop, leaving many vintners heartbroken because of a failed yield.
Why We Love Pinot Noir Day
Its wine, and good wine too
Who could turn down a valid reason to enjoy a great glass of wine on a day like today? We can’t, that’s for sure.
It’s a great reason to absorb antioxidants
Antioxidants are great for you, and Pinot Noir is jam-packed with them. A single glass has been proven to provide you with a much-needed supply of antioxidants.
It brings history and culture into your life
Wine culture is strange and peculiar when looked at by an outside observer. Today gives everyone a chance to enjoy a good bottle of wine, regardless of how astute they may be in the world of fine wine.
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