I bet you have never heard of Picpoul de Pinet before, have you? No need to be embarrassed. We only recently found out about this wine from Wine Insiders Club. Fortunately a bottle of 2020 Belardent Picpoul de Pinet AOP came in our first wine shipment, along with some history of the wine. To find out more about this refreshing wine and how to get it, keep reading.
What grape is in this wine?
Wine producers make Picpoul de Pinet from the ancient picpoul blanc grape variety, found in the southern part of France. Languedoc- Roussillon, the largest wine region in France houses the Picpoul de Pinet vineyard. While this massive wine region has many climates, the Picpoul de Pinet vineyard is located in the center, near the Mediterranean Sea.
The Briny location imbibes a light salinity and freshness to the grapes. Further, the sea breezes prevent the climate from becoming too hot. The terroir contains limestone which imparts a minerality to the grapes.
What does Picpoul de Pinet mean anyway?
According to Wine Insiders, Piquepol means lip stinger. This is an accurate description of this grape because the wine has a light citrus taste with high acidity. As a result it makes a great for pairing with local seafood such as raw oysters or shellfish. However, don’t feel limited because white wines traditionally go with fish, the acidity holds up well with spicy foods like curries.
What does Picpoul de Pinet taste like?
Similar to Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio, this wine has citrus and green fruit flavors. You may be able to distinguish lemon and herbs on your pallet. Picpoul de Pinet also has a minerality which hints of flint.
AOP, what’s that?
To clarify, AOP stands for Appellation d’Origine Protegee. In other words, it means the wine was produced, processed and refined in a specific region. Basically, it is the purebred pedigree of the wine.
Where can I buy Picpoul de Pinet wine?
While many varieties of Picpoul de Pinet are available in local wine stores such as Total Wine, the 2020 Belardent Picpoul de Pinet AOP is only available from Wine Insiders. To find out more about joining their club click the button. In fact, if you decide to try this club, you will receive a discount on your first order from my referral. Hurry and click the button to sign up. After all, I’m not sure how long Wine Insiders will let me share this discount!
Donna Emperador is a creative blogger and copywriter. Donna believes in learning about different cultures while sharing good food and wine. She has lived in South Florida for over 20 years and enjoys spending time traveling and making wine culture easier to understand for readers.
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