Facebook pixel
Select Page

Picpoul grapes

by | Oct 11, 2016

Piquepoul is a wine grape variety grown chiefly in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc regions of France and in Catalonia region of Spain.

Picpoul

This variety exists in two different colors of berries. The dark-skinned ones are called Piquepoul noir and the light-skinned ones as Piquepoul Blanc. Piquepoul Blanc is the most common of the Piquepouls.

Around a thousand hectares of the same variety is cultivated in France. It has three main synonyms Piquepoul, Picpoul and Picapoll.

Wines
Vineyards
Wine grape varieties

Piquepoul has an extended account in the Languedoc state and along with Cinsault and Clairette Blanche is known as one of the oldest domestic grape varieties of the same region.

It was used to prepare the wine Picardian in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by blending with Clairette Blanche.

However, Piquepoul lost its popularity due to its vulnerability to fungal diseases like as powdery mildew and its short yield after the Great French Wine Blight. Piquepoul tends to bud late and is sensitive to mildew.

Origin of the Piquepoul grapes

Most scholars of today believe that Piquepoul (Picpoul) belongs to Languedoc state of South of France, where it is still found even now.

After the phylloxera foray at the end of the nineteenth century, Piquepoul had been stopped to be replanted. Today it is famous for Picpoul de Pinet which is a crisp, light-green wine of the Pinet region in the Coteaux de Languedoc.

In early 1618, Piquepoul was stated to be as Languedoc grapes by the botanist J.B. Maniol in his work Sylve plantarium.

The Picpoul de Pinet wine region lies in Languedoc. Right in west of the Mediterranean, it is a triangular area, and holds historic as well as beautiful cities like Agde, Sete and Pezenas as its points.

The vineyards are located at the top of the limestone plateau surrounded by the most beautiful, perfumed and soft leaved; low Mediterranean bushes called garrigue and other pine groves.

But the production of the renowned Picpoul de Pinet is limited in little petite villages close to the Bassin de Thau. This region has been producing very high class mussels of France. Picpoul de Pinet is an exceptional French white wine at a modest price.

Characteristics of Piquepoul Wines

Piquepoul cultivation is suitable to dry climates. The end season humidity helps the grapes to fill out and finish ripening.
As stated before, they have a tendency to mildew. They look crystal clear with some green highlights; though can turn more golden with time.

A photo posted by Danielle S. (@girlgonevine) on

They taste soft and delicate nose with pleasant traits of acacia, hawthorn blossom. They are delicate and fresh in the mouth and have a brilliant acid/structure balance.

They tend to counteract the salt and iodine in shellfish, and are surprisingly good with rich cheese and charcuterie.

In vineyards, Piquepoul is not a tricky varietal to raise. It pushes before time, making it somewhat prone to frost, although ripens relatively tardy. Besides Roussanne, Picpoul is generally the last white varietal to be brought in, just before Mourvedre at the end of October.

In wineries, it is fermented in neutral barrels to complement the wines brightness with a bit of roundness.

Food Pairings with Piquepoul Wines

What can you match it with, is the question? This is a superb wine for pan-fried fish, and delicate white fillets. Most prefer it with fish and seafood; specifying scallops, smoked prawns, oysters and bouillabaisse, though people claim to enjoy it with chicken livers and mushrooms on toast too.

Salmon with capers and butter salted cod with potato hash ham croquettes are good dishes to enjoy with it. Sweet cheese and pasta makes a combination.

Author

Michael Bredahl

Michael Bredahl

Wine Writer

Michael is an online enthusiast, with a lot of knowledge about online marketing. Traveling around the world to hunt for the perfect wine. Latest on Sicily, where Etna has a huge impact on the taste, which is strong with a bitter aftertaste for the youngest wines, but older wines are fantastic. Drinking wine, and writing about them, are one the passions. Remember to drink responsibly 🙂

Are you a Copywriter?

We have a lot of articles without much content, if you can do it better, you are welcome to write a nice article, and get the proper credit for that. Read more information about beeing an author, and Contact us for more information.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Vineyards
Breweries
Alcohol and Distilleries
Wine Grape Varieties
Wine Informations
Wine Merchants
No ratings yet.

Give this page a High Five!