Roquefort cheese with figs, nuts and a glass of Pinot Noir wine.
getty
Pinot Noir wines are often associated with high prices, but not all high-quality options are out of reach. Here’s a selection of 20 award-winning Pinot Noir wines from around the world, most of which retail for under $50. These wines, recognized with Gold Medals from major international wine competitions, offer a taste of luxury without breaking the bank. They are a testament to the fact that you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a top-notch Pinot Noir wine from renowned regions worldwide.
Top Ranked New Zealand Pinot Noir Wine
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand, $30
Established in 1961, Villa Maria is a leader in New Zealand winemaking, focusing on sustainability. The wine features ripe cherry, plum, and delicate earthiness, with smooth tannins and a long, elegant finish. Villa Maria’s commitment to sustainability and long industry history makes them a trusted producer of high-quality wines.
Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir Central Otago, New Zealand, $62
Felton Road practices biodynamic farming and is known for terroir-driven wines. This wine exhibits blackberry, raspberry, and subtle spice, with a layered, silky texture and vibrant finish.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough, New Zealand, $80
Ata Rangi, a pioneering winery, produces highly regarded, expressive Pinot Noirs that are consistently rated among New Zealand’s best Pinot Noir wines. This wine features red cherry, earthy notes, and subtle spice, with well-rounded tannins and a velvety finish.
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir Martinborough, New Zealand, $47
Craggy Range is renowned for producing single-vineyard wines reflecting Martinborough’s terroir. The wine features plum, raspberry, and floral notes with a soft, velvety mouthfeel and balanced acidity.
Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand, $45
Cloudy Bay is an iconic New Zealand winery celebrated for its terroir-driven wines and innovative practices. The wine shows bright cherry, strawberry, and hints of oak, with a smooth, balanced finish.
Yealands Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Awatere Valley, New Zealand, $26
Known for sustainable viticulture, Yealands produces vibrant wines with a unique sense of place. The wine features red cherry, cranberry, herbal undertones, soft tannins, and a refined finish.
Esk Valley Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, $16
Esk Valley is known for its small-batch, handcrafted wines. This wine features bright cherry, strawberry, and subtle oak with a smooth, elegant finish. This is easily the best value in New Zealand Pinot Noir wine.
Seresin Estate Leah Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand, $34
Seresin focuses on organic and biodynamic winemaking, creating expressive, layered Pinot Noir. This wine features dark cherry, red currant, and earthy tones, with well-integrated tannins and a fresh finish.
Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Central Otago, New Zealand, $55
Owned by actor Sam Neill, Two Paddocks focuses on quality, small-batch Pinot Noir. The wine features dark cherry, plum, savory spice, refined tannins, and a lingering finish.
Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago, New Zealand, $35
Akarua is known for high-altitude, cool-climate vineyards that produce complex, well-structured Pinot Noirs. The wine exhibits blackberry, plum, and a hint of spice with a smooth, polished finish.
Bunches of ripe Pinot Noir grapes on vine in vineyard at harvest time.
getty
Top Ranked Burgundy Pinot Noir Wine
Domaine Faiveley Bourgogne Pinot Noir Burgundy, France, $38
Founded in 1825, Domaine Faiveley crafts classic Burgundy wines focusing on traditional methods. The wine features bright cherry, red currant, and earthy notes with a delicate structure and a smooth finish.
Bouchard Aîné & Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir Burgundy, France, $26
Founded in 1750, Bouchard Aîné & Fils is a respected Burgundy house with a classic winemaking approach. This wine features red berries, earthy notes, and floral hints, with fine tannins and a balanced finish.
Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Burgundy, France, $23
Louis Jadot produces elegant, terroir-focused wines from some of Burgundy’s top appellations. This wine features red berries, floral hints, and a touch of earth, with balanced acidity and a refined finish.
Joseph Drouhin Laforet Pinot Noir Burgundy, France, $35
Joseph Drouhin, a family-run estate, emphasizes quality and organic practices across its wines. This wine exhibits fresh cherry, raspberry, and subtle spice, with a silky texture and a clean finish.
Top Ranked South American Pinot Noir Wine
Trapiche Oak Cask Pinot Noir Mendoza, Argentina, $11
Trapiche, one of Argentina’s largest producers, is known for its expressive and affordable wines. This wine features dark cherry, plum, and a hint of vanilla, with a rounded, smooth finish. At an average price of just $11, it’s also an incredible value.
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley, Chile, $30
Cono Sur focuses on sustainable practices, producing Pinot Noir that showcases Chile’s cool-climate regions. This wine features black cherry, red currant, and smoky notes, with well-integrated tannins and a lingering finish.
Casas del Bosque Reserva Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley, Chile, $16
Casas del Bosque specializes in cool-climate varietals. This wine exhibits ripe red fruit, floral notes, a touch of spice, balanced acidity, and a smooth finish—an outstanding Chilean Pinot Noir at an incredible price.
Two glasses of Pinot Noir wine from Casablanca in Chile.
getty
Leyda Single Vineyard Las Brisas Pinot Noir Leyda Valley, Chile, $21
Leyda is known for crafting expressive, cool-climate Pinot Noir from the Leyda Valley. This wine features bright cherry, raspberry, and herbal tones, with vibrant acidity and a fresh finish.
Domaine Jean Bousquet Reserve Pinot Noir Tupungato, Argentina, $15
This family-owned winery combines Argentine terroir with French winemaking expertise. The wine shows red fruit, floral notes, and a touch of minerality with a long, polished finish.
Bodega Chacra Barda Pinot Noir Patagonia, Argentina, $33
Bodega Chacra specializes in organic, biodynamic Pinot Noir. This wine features wild strawberry, cherry, and earthy notes, with soft tannins and a balanced finish.
These wines represent high-quality, accessible Pinot Noirs from prominent wine-producing regions across the globe, each with a unique expression of terroir. They all reflect the core Pinot Noir DNA of red and black fruit and some the herbal notes and wet stone minerality often found in these wines, but each wine also showcase the unique terroir where they were crafted. Convincing evidence of the varietal’s complexity and ability to adapt to various climates and terroirs. On average, many of these award-winning wines sell for less than $50/bottle, some for substantially less.
For additional Pinot Noir wine recommendations from the US and Burgundy see The Best West Coast Pinot Noir Wine and Top Rated Burgundian Pinot Noir For Under $50.