When you think of Pinot Noir, you often think of a dark wine with notes of raspberry and cherry, that also features spicier notes of things like pepper and cinnamon. It often has these earthy notes that add a boldness to every sip that is hard to ignore. And while different Pinot Noirs will offer different notes based on the region that the grapes were grown in, most of these wines are rich and dark in nature.

It’s because of the dark and spicy notes of a classic Pinot Noir that we found ourselves reaching for those dark romances with spicy scenes. Inspired by the notes that make sipping this wine so refreshing, we decided to do some pairings of our own. And instead of pairing our wine with food or sweets, we decided to pair it with a good book or five. So which books are we picking up to read while we sip on some Pinot Noir?

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier – This dark and spicy romance features a secret society, an arranged pairing, and plenty of violence. It’s not for the faint of heart and yet, it is one of those books that is hard to put down. Shantel Tessier understands how to get dark with her writing, while still giving us a level of spice that pops of the pages. This is definitely a check the trigger warnings type of series, but if you like that type of thing, then this is the perfect book for a rich and spicy glass of Pinot Noir. (And you may want a few more bottles of wine, as the rest of the series is also worth a pickup.)

Dante by Sadie Kincaid – This is a dark mafia romance with heat. And as the first book in a series that really can be read as individual books, this one kicks everything off in style. There is plenty of heat to be had, but there are also some themes that are definitely on the darker side. And maybe it’s the mafia vibes, but this book screams Pinot Noir. Dante brings the heat and the spice, all in a story that engages all of the senses.

Court of Nightmares by K.A. Knight – If you enjoy paranormal romance with plenty of spice and darker themes, then this book is for you. This story features rejection, prophecies, vampires (or in this case vampyr), and even a reverse harem romance. This is the kind of story that gets dark and twisty, but still satisfies those readers who like things dark and dirty. That being said, check those trigger warnings before diving into this one.

Take Me Apart by Brea Alepoú and Skyler Snow – This is the first book in a series of gay romances featuring mafia brothers. This first book kicks things off in style with a mafia boss and the detective trying to take him down falling into an unexpected romance together. And yes, you could call this an enemies to lovers type of book, but it never really feels like these men are enemies. This book is hot and spicy, with plenty of grit and darkness. There is something about Take Me Apart that just screams a perfect glass of Pinot Noir and cool fall night.

Broken Whispers by Neva Altaj – Our final Pinot Noir pairing goes to Broken Whispers by Neva Altaj. This is another dark mafia romance, and it definitely goes all out with the steamy moments. Although this is the second book in the Perfectly Imperfect series, it can be read on its own. This book features a scarred MC who is also a single dad, an arranged marriage, and some insta-lust. It feels like it has it all, while also being on the shorter side of things. With this level of spice and heat though, this is perfect for that glass of wine time.

Pinot Noir recommendations

And if you are looking for some Pinot Noir to add to your shopping list, here are a few recommendations for your next date night with a dark and spicy romance:

– Carmel Road Monterey County Pinot Noir
– Head High Pinot Noir
– La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
– Raeburn Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
– Avaline Pinot Noir (this is a lighter bodied offering, but it still works as a perfect dark romance pairing)
– Woodbridge Pinot Noir
– J Vineyards Pinot Noir