Compare › Sangiovese vs Pinot Noir
Sangiovese vs Pinot Noir
Sangiovese has more body (medium vs light); Sangiovese has more tannin (firm vs soft); Sangiovese has more acidity (very high vs fresh). Both are usually dry.
Typical structure · knowledge base
SangiovesePinot Noir1 light / dry / low · 5 full / luscious / high
sweetness
1 · 1
body
3 · 2
tannin
4 · 2
acidity
5 · 4
oak
3 · 3
Same 1–5 numbers as the table. Typical for the variety, not a tasting of one wine.
| Sangiovese | Pinot Noir | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | red | red |
| sweetness | dry | dry |
| body | medium | light |
| tannin | firm | soft |
| acidity | very high | fresh |
| oak | some | some |
| Aromas | red cherry, sour cherry, plum, dried herbs, tomato leaf | red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, violet |
| Classic regions | Chianti Classico; Brunello di Montalcino; Vino Nobile di Montepulciano | Burgundy (Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune); Central Otago; Oregon (Willamette) |
| Food | tomato-based pasta, pizza, bistecca, salami, roast pork | duck, salmon, roast chicken, mushroom risotto, pork |
| Beginner-friendly | less so | yes |
Which should you buy?
Choose Sangiovese if you want medium body with firm tannins and red cherry, sour cherry, plum; it suits tomato-based pasta, pizza, bistecca. Choose Pinot Noir for light body, soft tannins and red cherry, strawberry, raspberry; it suits duck, salmon, roast chicken.
Top Sangiovese
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro Riserva 2019 Ciacci Piccolomini d`Aragona · Tuscany | £102.00 | |||
| Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2021 Valdicava · Tuscany | £80.76 | |||
| Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Pianrosso Brunello di Montalcino 2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d`Aragona · Tuscany | £53.34 | |||
| Mazzei Siepi 2023 Mazzei · Tuscany | £75.62 | |||
| Siro Pacenti Vecchie Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2021 Siro Pacenti · Tuscany | £84.98 | |||
| Siro Pacenti Vecchie Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2017 Siro Pacenti · Tuscany | £92.59 |
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 |