Pinot Noir Champagne, also known as Blanc de Noirs, is a fascinating and unique wine that challenges our expectations. While Pinot Noir is typically associated with red wines, including those from the renowned Burgundy region, it can also be used to produce a Champagne that is surprisingly white in color. This may seem contradictory at first, but it is all due to the way the wine is made.
To understand why Pinot Noir Champagne is white, we need to delve into the winemaking process. When making Champagne, the color of the final product is determined by the juice that is extracted from the grapes. While Pinot Noir grapes have black skins, their flesh is actually white. This means that when the grapes are gently pressed, only the clear juice is extracted, devoid of any color that the skins may impart.
The process of pressing the grapes is crucial in creating a white Champagne from Pinot Noir. The grapes are carefully selected and harvested, ensuring that only the best quality fruit is used. They are then gently pressed to extract the juice, without any prolonged contact with the skins. This delicate process ensures that minimal color is transferred to the juice, resulting in a wine that is pale golden or straw-like in appearance.
Another factor that contributes to the white color of Pinot Noir Champagne is the fermentation process. After the juice is extracted, it undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels. During fermentation, the grape sugars are converted into alcohol, and any remaining color compounds are further diminished. This helps to maintain the wine's pale hue and allows its delicate flavors to shine through.
It's worth noting that Pinot Noir Champagne is not always made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes. It can also be crafted using a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, another black grape variety commonly used in Champagne production. The inclusion of Pinot Meunier can add complexity and depth to the final blend, while still maintaining the wine's elegant white color.
In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have had the pleasure of tasting and serving Pinot Noir Champagne to many curious guests. It never fails to surprise and delight them when they discover that a wine made from black grapes can be so beautifully white. It is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the winemakers who carefully control every step of the winemaking process to create this unique style of Champagne.
Pinot Noir Champagne is white because the juice extracted from the black-skinned Pinot Noir grapes is actually white in color. Through gentle pressing and careful fermentation, the wine retains its pale hue and showcases the delicate flavors and aromas of the Pinot Noir grape. It is a true testament to the artistry of winemaking and a wine that challenges our preconceived notions.