Pinot Noir is the ideal pairing for your Christmas turkey

Struggling for the perfect serve on the big day? Oenophiles in the UK are increasingly turning to Pinot Noir as the ideal match for turkey.  

Pinot Noir has picked up speed as a popular varietal wine in recent years. The wine is now worth over £51 million in UK retail sales, according to recent figures published by market researcher IRI.

In the off-trade sector alone, Pinot Noir sales are valued at £10.3m, and growing at almost 11% in value year on year.

Ben Smith at Concha y Toro UK, who distribute Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir,  said that, despite being notoriously difficult to get right, Chillean iterations of the black grape continue to grow in popularity in the UK, and is the ideal match for turkey because of its fresh, light palette and red berry notes.

“Pinot is the perfect red wine with turkey,” he said.

“Fresh, fruity but with enough about it to match with the big bird with all the trimmings. Convenience shoppers love New World wines, and Chilean Pinot is one of the styles they are picking out more and more.”

UK wine expert Victoria Moore reinforced the recommendation, adding that New World Pinots are a particularly good match for the festive bird and its accompanying sides as it has “a brightness that appeals to the tang of cranberry sauce.”