(Forbes) - Pinot Noir continues to be a critical and consumer favorite, with growing awareness of the grape variety among even the newest wine-lovers. And Pinot’s reputation as an intrinsically high-quality wine has benefited even lesser bottlings: As with all grape varieties, perception can be a make-or-break phenomenon. (California Merlot is a handy example of the other side of the proverbial coin, with increasingly impressive bottlings that often still struggle against the tide of negative publicity that afflicted Merlot for years. Of course, there is never anything inherently good or bad about a particular type of grape or the wine made from it, Pinot and Merlot included: There is plenty of great and terrible Pinot Noir on the market, as there is of every grape variety.)

What’s more interesting is the sheer range of Pinot Noir available right now, and the stunning number of places in which this most finicky grape variety is being successfully grown and vinified. As consumer demand for Pinot Noir continues to expand, it is being planted and bottled in an increasingly diverse and exciting range of locales.