Updated November 2026
Short answer: Malbec is the dark, full-bodied, fruity red; Pinot Noir is the light, fresh, silky one. Choose Malbec for bold flavor and grilled meat, and Pinot Noir for a lighter red with more acidity that works with fish, poultry and mushrooms. Keep reading for taste, body, pairings and where to taste both.
Malbec and Pinot Noir sit at opposite ends of the red wine spectrum. Malbec is deep in color, full in body and generous with dark fruit. Pinot Noir is pale, light-bodied and driven by freshness and delicate red fruit. Much of the difference starts with the grape skin: Malbec’s is thick and dark, Pinot Noir’s is thin and delicate, which is why Pinot Noir makes paler wines with softer tannins.
Argentina is home to both. Mendoza is Malbec country, and further south, Patagonia’s cool desert climate has made Pinot Noir one of the region’s calling cards. At Borravino we pour Malbec every day in Mendoza, and our Patagonia wine tour lets you taste the cooler, lighter side of Argentine wine. You can read more in our guide to the Patagonia wine region.
Malbec vs Pinot Noir at a glance
| Malbec | Pinot Noir | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Cahors, southwest France; Argentina’s signature grape today | Burgundy, France |
| Color | Deep purple | Pale to medium ruby |
| Taste | Plum, blackberry, violet, cocoa, sweet spice | Red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, earth, mushroom, spice |
| Body | Full-bodied | Light to medium-bodied |
| Tannins | Firm but plush | Low and silky |
| Acidity | Medium | Medium to high |
| Grape skin | Thick | Thin and delicate |
| Style | Bold, fruity and concentrated | Delicate, fresh and elegant |
| Best for | Fans of bold reds and grilled meats | Fans of lighter, fresher reds |
| Serve at | 16–18°C (61–64°F) | 13–16°C (55–61°F), slightly cooler |
| Pair with | Asado, steak, empanadas, lamb | Salmon, duck, roast chicken, mushrooms, pork |
| Where to taste it | Mendoza, Argentina (Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley) | Burgundy; Oregon; Argentine Patagonia; Chile’s Casablanca Valley |
What you need to know
What’s the main difference between Malbec and Pinot Noir?
Weight and intensity. Malbec is dark, full-bodied and fruity, with plush tannins. Pinot Noir is pale, light-bodied and fresher, with more acidity, lower tannins and red-berry and earthy flavors.
Is Malbec or Pinot Noir better?
Neither: it depends on your taste and what is on the table. As a rule of thumb, choose Malbec for grilled red meat and bold flavors, and Pinot Noir when you want something lighter, fresher and more food-flexible.
Is Malbec wine sweet or dry?
Dry. Malbec is a dry red wine, although its ripe dark fruit can feel soft and jammy, which some people read as a touch of sweetness.
Is Pinot Noir sweeter than Malbec?
No. Both are dry reds. Pinot Noir has higher acidity and lower tannin, so it tastes fresher and lighter, with red fruit, but it is not sweeter than Malbec.
Which red wine is smoothest?
It depends on what “smooth” means to you. Pinot Noir is smooth in the sense of silky and low in tannin. Malbec is one of the smoothest full-bodied reds, thanks to its plush tannins. For something soft and round, also try Merlot (see Malbec vs Merlot).
Which one is better with food?
Pinot Noir is one of the most food-flexible reds: it works with salmon, duck, roast chicken, pork and mushroom dishes. Malbec is the better partner for steak, lamb and smoky Argentine asado.
Should I chill Pinot Noir or Malbec?
Both taste better slightly cool than at warm room temperature. Pinot Noir is best at 13–16°C, so 15 to 20 minutes in the fridge before serving helps. Malbec is best a little warmer, at 16–18°C.
Where does Pinot Noir grow in Argentina?
Mainly in Patagonia (Río Negro and Neuquén), where cool nights and a dry, windy climate suit the grape, and also in a few cool, high-altitude sites in the Uco Valley.
Pinot Noir in Argentina and Chile
If you love Malbec, a trip is a good excuse to try Pinot Noir at the source. In Patagonia, our Patagonia wine tour visits the cool south of Argentina, where Pinot Noir is a specialty. And in Chile, our Casablanca Valley wine tour from Santiago explores a cool, coastal valley known for Pinot Noir and white wines.
Professional recommendations:
- Taste a Mendoza Malbec and a Patagonian Pinot Noir back to back to feel the difference in body.
- Serve the Pinot Noir a little cooler than the Malbec.
- Pair both with roast duck or grilled mushrooms and notice how differently they handle the same dish.
Experience both, where they grow
Reading about Malbec and Pinot Noir is one thing; tasting them where they grow is another. Our private wine tours in Mendoza take you from Luján de Cuyo’s old vines to the high-altitude Uco Valley, and our Chile wine tours cover cool and warm valleys alike. Traveling with a group? See our upcoming small group trips or write to hello@borravinowinetours.com.
Found a Mendoza Malbec you loved at a winery? We Ship Wines can send bottles from Mendoza to the United States or Brazil. Also comparing with other reds? Read our guides to Malbec vs Merlot, Malbec vs Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vs Tempranillo.