Pinot Meunier Day
December 16th
Pinot Meunier is the lesser-known of the trio of grapes used to make Champagne. The three primary varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and…Pinot Meunier. It’s very likely that you have tasted both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as still wines, but Pinot Meunier? It’s rare to find that. I was lucky enough to taste one at the sparkling producer Swift in the Orange wine region of New South Wales, Australia.
(Yes, I know there are more grapes allowed in Champagne, including Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier, Arbane, & Voltis. But we are talking about the three primary grapes of the region.)
While Champagne is just one AOC, the region breaks into several pockets, including Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sezanne, and Aube. In the region of Vallée de la Marne, Pinot Meunier dominates.
Flavors and Aromas in Pinot Meunier
Pinot Meunier creates aromatic Champagnes with notes of wild red and black fruits and rose petals. It has higher acidity and is best from old vines, which add complexity.
While it is often treated like Champagne’s bald-headed step-child grape, it ripens when Pinot Noir and Chardonnay struggle, so it is indispensable
How Pinot Meunier got its name.
The name comes from its leaves, whose undersides are covered with fine silver hairs that look like they have been dusted with flour.
“Meunier” in French means “baker” or “miller.”
More on Pinot Meunier from Crushed Grape Chronicles
- Celebrating Champagne Day
- Celebrate Champagne and French Fries Day
- Champagne Cattier – Sustainable Champagne creating a home for the hedgehogs
- Swift – Delicious Traditional Method Sparkling Wines from Printhie and the High Altitude Vineyards in Orange Australia
- Champagne & BBQ, Chartogne-Taillet meets Rollin’ Smoke
- Farmer Fizz? An exploration of Grower Champagne with the French
Robin Renken is a wine writer and Certified Specialist of Wine and WSET 3 Certified. She and her husband Michael travel to wine regions interviewing vineyard owners and winemakers and learning the stories behind the glass.
When not traveling they indulge in cooking and pairing wines with food at home in Las Vegas.
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