When the days are getting shorter and a chill begins to creep into the air, autmn's upon us and winter is bearing down.

Time to put a pie in the oven and crack open a bottle of pinot noir.

Pinot's the perfect drink for this time of year. It's lighter than the full-bodied reds like shiraz and cabernet. which come into their own in the depths of winter, but more substantial than the crisp white wines you've been drinking in the hot summer months.

Pinot noir grapes have thinner skins than, say, cabernet and, because the skin of the grape has all the colour and most of the flavour, pinot tends to have a lighter, more transparent colour and have a more delicate, softer taste.

Pinot is a bit pricier than other reds because it has to be grown in cool regions where viticulture is more difficult and the crops need to be kept low in the vineyard to develop good flavour and intensity in the grapes.

Because of its lightness and softness, pinot is a great match for a wide range of foods, including grilled pink fish, like salmon and trout.

Drink it out of big, wide-bowl glasses so you can give the wine a good old swirl to release all those delicious, delicate smells.

Source: Max Allen Better Homes and Gardens June 2004