Pinot Noir
Burgundy, Oregon, New Zealand, California
Thin-skinned grape, lower tannin and lower extraction than Cabernet. Generally the lowest-impact red wine.
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- High
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Moderate
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Low
- Additives
- Moderate
- Calories
- 120
- Carbs
- 3.4g
15.2g ethanol at 13% ABV. 106 from alcohol, 14 from carbohydrate.
In its favor
- ✓Lowest tannin red
- ✓Less skin contact = less histamine
- ✓Lighter body
What to watch
- !Still meaningful histamine and sulfite content
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines High ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Moderate ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Moderate ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Pinot Noir is the red wine for people who can’t tolerate red wine. Lowest tannin, lowest extraction: not zero, but the least chemistry-loaded option.
Pinot Noir questions
How many calories are in a glass of Pinot Noir? ▾
About 120 calories in a 5oz glass at 13% ABV. 106 come from the alcohol and 14 from carbohydrate.
How many carbs are in Pinot Noir? ▾
3.4g of carbohydrate per 5oz glass. The producer does not publish a sugar figure, and in beer most of that carbohydrate is unfermented starch and dextrins rather than sugar.
Is Pinot Noir gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Pinot Noir is made from grapes. There is no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
Does Pinot Noir give you a bad hangover? ▾
Pinot Noir scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 8/10 for red wine overall. The main drivers are its histamines.