Japan Winery Map

Know the grapes

Pinot Noirピノ・ノワール

Wineries growing it
124
Awards
65
Years with awards
2009–2026

A red grape that gives pale-coloured, gently tannic wines with aromas of strawberry and cherry.

Among red wines it is on the pale side, with gentle tannin (the drying, astringent sensation) and noticeable acidity. Its thin skins make it disease-prone and difficult to grow, and it is generally considered to suit cool climates. In Japan a growing number of producers work with it in relatively cool areas such as Yoichi and the Sorachi region in Hokkaido, and parts of Nagano. Its light frame suits duck and mushroom dishes, and it also goes well with Japanese cooking based on dashi and soy sauce.

France (Burgundy)strawberrycherrymushroom

Notes on aroma and taste describe general tendencies for this grape, not claims about any particular wine — the actual character depends on the producer and how it is made.

For this grape we have not yet confirmed a primary source for its origin or growing regions. (Winery entries always carry a source and the date it was checked.)

Pinot Noir at the Japan Wine Competition

65 awards in the published results carry “Pinot Noir” in the entry name, across 17 wineries and 15 years. These are read from the entry names, not from declared grape composition, so wines whose names do not mention the grape are not included.

  • Gold 4
  • Silver 20
  • Bronze 33
  • Encouragement 1

Wineries with the most awards

Ordered by how many awards we list. Producers differ in how many wines they entered and in how many years they entered, so this is not a ranking of quality.

Wines that have won more than once

Grouped by producer and wine, showing those with three or more awards. Names come from the published entry names, with the vintage removed because each row spans several vintages.

By year

Wineries growing Pinot Noir

124 listed wineries are recorded by their sources as growing this grape.