Compare › Pinot Noir vs Chardonnay
Pinot Noir vs Chardonnay
Chardonnay has more body (medium vs light); Pinot Noir has more tannin (soft vs very soft); similar acidity. Both are usually dry.
Typical structure · knowledge base
Pinot NoirChardonnay1 light / dry / low · 5 full / luscious / high
sweetness
1 · 1
body
2 · 3
tannin
2 · 1
acidity
4 · 4
oak
3 · 3
Same 1–5 numbers as the table. Typical for the variety, not a tasting of one wine.
| Pinot Noir | Chardonnay | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | red | white |
| sweetness | dry | dry |
| body | light | medium |
| tannin | soft | very soft |
| acidity | fresh | fresh |
| oak | some | some |
| Aromas | red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, violet | green apple, lemon, wet stone (cool); peach, melon, pineapple (warm) |
| Classic regions | Burgundy (Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune); Central Otago; Oregon (Willamette) | Chablis; Côte de Beaune (Meursault, Puligny, Chassagne); Mâconnais (Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran) |
| Food | duck, salmon, roast chicken, mushroom risotto, pork | roast chicken, salmon, creamy pasta, risotto, lobster |
| Beginner-friendly | yes | yes |
Which should you buy?
Choose Pinot Noir if you want light body with soft tannins and red cherry, strawberry, raspberry; it suits duck, salmon, roast chicken. Choose Chardonnay for medium body, very soft tannins and green apple, lemon, wet stone (cool); peach; it suits roast chicken, salmon, creamy pasta.
Top Pinot Noir
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne Krug Grande Cuvee Edition 173 Krug · Champagne | £238.03 | |||
| Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir 2025 Terra Sancta · Central Otago | £34.01 | |||
| Terra Sancta Jackson's Block Pinot Noir 2024 Terra Sancta · Central Otago | £50.12 | |||
| Terra Sancta Shingle Beach Pinot Noir 2024 Terra Sancta · Central Otago | £50.12 | |||
| Champagne Henri Giraud Fut de Chene Ay Grand Cru Rose Champagne Henri Giraud · Champagne | £237.96 | |||
| Ferrari Maximum Rose Ferrari · Alto Adige | £25.49 |
Top Chardonnay
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodega Chacra Chardonnay 2023 Bodega Chacra · Argentina | £101.99 | |||
| My Favorite Neighbor Chardonnay 2021 My Favorite Neighbor · California | £58.66 | |||
| Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault Les Tillets 2023 Domaine Patrick Javillier · Burgundy | £63.73 | |||
| Champagne Esterlin Cleo Blanc de Blancs 2012 Champagne Esterlin · Champagne | £66.88 | |||
| Antinori Cervaro della Sala 2023 Antinori · Umbria | £73.97 | |||
| Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 Tolpuddle Vineyard · Other Australia | £76.44 |