Situated in the Adelaide Hills, the altitude and cool conditions of Nepenthe's vineyards are ideal for growing the Pinot Noir grape. And it seems that the rest of the country is starting to cotton on to the fact that this region is producing some of the most exciting examples currently available. Full of ripe cherry and raspberry flavours with a complementing acid structure and soft tannin backbone make this Pinot ideal for food pairing on a wide scale.

Coldstream Hills was established in 1985 by James and Suzanne Halliday and has always produced a benchmark cool-climate Pinot Noir. This beautifully textured wine boasts rich flavours of dark cherries, pepper and foresty notes, with a long and toasty finish.

42 Degrees South Pinot Noir has red cherry and blackcurrant aromas followed by mixed red berry flavours that linger elegantly and finish with delicate tannins and soft acid.

This vibrant NZ Pinot shows earthy forest floor notes and dark cherries on the nose. Richly textured on the palate the flavours have elements of wild berries mushroom and chocolate framed by quality French oak.

New Zealand is proving to be a star performer when it comes to Pinot Noir. This is a fruit driven style exhibiting juicy cherry and strawberry fruit combined with subtle oak. The finish is smooth and soft.

Mt Difficulty is one of Central Otago's oldest and most prestigious vineyards. Having tamed the rugged region since 1992, Mt Difficulty produce wines of utmost character and charm. Their Roaring Meg Pinot Noir shows lovely perfumed blackberry and dark cherry fruits along with a hint of spice. On the palate the wine has a sweet berry character along with balanced, ripe textural tannins that rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine.

This is a very affordable Pinot from the highly regarded Tarrawarra winery with fruit sourced from the estate and the hills of southern NSW. A well made Pinot with good fruit depth and varietal flavour.

From the Yarra Valley comes this benchmark Pinot from one of the country's best regions for the variety. Sweet berry fruit and forest floor characters are balanced by depth and length of flavour.

Yabby Lake's 'no expense spared' approach to viticulture and winemaking, is amply demonstrated in this super Pinot; fresh and fruity with secondary nuances, will please all Pinot lovers on a budget.

Central Otago Pinot's are generally more user-friendly than Burgundy; Rabbit Ranch is very soft fruit-forward style with soft tannins; best enjoyed young.