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VinePair published recommendations from 16 sommeliers on Pinot Noirs they consider underrated, spanning regions including King Valley, Baden, Willamette Valley and Japan. The article highlights a range of styles and prices, but the supplied source excerpt does not include all 16 responses or enough information to verify current availability and pricing.
VinePair asked 16 sommeliers to name the most underrated Pinot Noir on the market, publishing recommendations that range from a $20 Australian bottle to German, Californian, Greek and Japanese wines. The responses offer readers alternatives to familiar Pinot Noir regions, though they are professional recommendations rather than an independent tasting or ranking.
One recommendation comes from Thomas Price, beverage director at 1856 – Culinary Residence in Auburn, Ala. He named the 2021 Redbank Pinot Noir from King Valley, Australia, describing it as light and fresh and saying it sells for $20 at his shop. That price is Price’s stated local retail price; the article excerpt does not establish a broader market price or current availability.
Several respondents pointed to German Pinot Noir, often called Spätburgunder. Christian DiNello, wine director at Indienne and Elder in New York City, singled out wines from Baden and named Wasenhaus and Enderle & Moll as favorite producers. Ryan McGuinness, assistant manager and beverage director at Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, Conn., also praised Baden, recommending Bernhard Huber and describing its wines as ripe, textured and elegant.
Other picks emphasize regional variety within the United States and beyond. Lance Tolaio of Sam’s Grill in San Francisco recommended Sante Arcangeli’s Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Kim Prokoshyn, sommelier and general manager at Dunn & Sons Wine in Yarmouth Port, Mass., praised Pinot Noir from the San Luis Obispo Coast, naming Lady of the Sunshine, Scar of the Sea and Phelan Farm. Owen Perry of Portland’s Lansdowne chose Belle Pente from the Willamette Valley. The supplied excerpt also names Greek Pinot Noir and Coco Farm’s 2021 Japanese Pinot Noir, but cuts off before the Japanese recommendation’s full explanation.
More Regions for Pinot Noir Shoppers
The survey’s value is in showing how widely Pinot Noir is made and interpreted beyond its historic association with Burgundy. The sommeliers describe wines shaped by different growing regions, from light, herbal German examples to coastal California bottles they associate with freshness and lifted red-fruit character. These are individual expert assessments, not a claim that one region or style is objectively best.
For consumers, the recommendations can provide a starting point when a familiar bottle feels predictable or expensive. Price’s stated $20 Redbank example shows that at least one respondent sees an affordable option, while the other selections point shoppers toward less familiar labels and places. Availability, import access and prices can vary by market, so readers may need to ask a local retailer or restaurant about substitutes.
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Pinot Noir Beyond Burgundy
VinePair’s report frames Pinot Noir as a grape with a long history in Burgundy that is now grown in regions around the world. Its introduction notes a broad stylistic range, from fuller, fruit-forward wines to more delicate bottles with earthy or spicy notes. That variety can make choosing a bottle difficult, particularly for shoppers who usually return to the same label or region.
The report presents the sommeliers’ answers as a guide to underappreciated options, not as a formal competition. The supplied excerpt lists recommendations including Redbank, Belle Pente, Ojai Vineyard and Niedrist, along with Coteaux Bourguignons and Walker Bay selections. It does not provide complete details for every respondent or every wine in the list, so the available material supports only a partial account of the full survey.
““Herbal and light in body, but deeply complex — they’re wines for enjoyment as well as contemplation.””
— Christian DiNello, wine director at Indienne and Elder
Availability and Survey Limits
The source excerpt does not identify the report’s publication date, explain how the 16 sommeliers were selected, or provide a shared definition of “underrated.” The recommendations reflect the respondents’ professional opinions and should not be read as a consensus ranking or a blind tasting result.
The supplied material ends partway through the discussion of Coco Farm’s 2021 Pinot Noir, so it does not establish the full rationale for that pick or provide the complete set of responses. It also does not confirm current bottle availability, retail prices beyond Price’s stated shop price, or whether any listed wines have since changed vintages.
How Readers Can Follow Up
Readers interested in a recommendation can use the named region, producer and vintage to check with local wine shops or restaurant wine lists. Because stock and vintages change, a seller may offer a different year or a comparable Pinot Noir from the same area. The available source provides no announced follow-up from VinePair or the sommeliers; any further guidance would depend on updated availability and complete details from the original report.
Key Questions
What did the sommeliers identify as an underrated Pinot Noir?
There was no single shared winner. In the supplied excerpt, recommendations include the 2021 Redbank Pinot Noir from Australia’s King Valley, wines from Baden in Germany, Sante Arcangeli’s Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir and Belle Pente’s Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Did the report name one best bottle?
No. VinePair asked 16 sommeliers for individual recommendations. The excerpt presents a range of picks rather than a ranked list or an overall winner.
Which recommendation had a stated price?
Thomas Price said the 2021 Redbank Pinot Noir sold for $20 at his shop. The source does not establish that price as typical elsewhere or confirm that the wine remains available at that price.
Are the recommendations independently verified?
The material records sommeliers’ professional opinions and tasting descriptions. It does not describe a blind tasting, independent scoring process or method for selecting the respondents.
Source: vinepair.com
