Known as pinot nero in Italy, it's an elegant and refined wine. Pinot noir Italian wine is best grown in cool climates where it unleashes delicious flavors like raspberry, strawberry, and mint, or darker red fruits, forest floor, vanilla, and white pepper.

The literal Italian translation of Pinot Noir is Pinot Nero, which is grown extensively in cooler northern regions like Alto Adige and Oltrepò Pavese. However, if you are looking for the "spiritual equivalent" of Pinot Noir—a wine with a similar light body, high acidity, and complex earthy notes—the answer is Nebbiolo. Specifically, wines like Barbaresco and Barolo from the Piedmont region are often called "The Pinot Noir of Italy." Like Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo is a "noble" grape that is notoriously difficult to grow and produces wines that are pale in color but incredibly powerful and aromatic, often smelling of "tar and roses." If you want the same delicate texture but a more affordable price point, look for Etna Rosso from Sicily; these wines, made from the Nerello Mascalese grape, are currently world-famous for their "Pinot-like" elegance and volcanic minerality.