One of the most finicky yet rewarding grapes to grow, Pinot Noir is a labor of love for many. However, the greatest red wines ofBurgundyprove that it is unquestionably worth the effort. In fact, it is the only red variety permitted in Burgundy. Highly reflective of its terroir, Pinot Noir prefers calcareous soils and a cool climate, requires low yields to achieve high quality and demands a lot of attention in the vineyard and winery. It retains even more glory as an important component ofChampagneas well as on its own inFrancesLoire ValleyandAlsaceregions. This sensational grape enjoys immense international success, most notably growing inOregon,CaliforniaandNew Zealandwith smaller amounts inChile,Germany(as Sptburgunder) andItaly(as Pinot Nero).