Introduction

If you’ve never heard of Picpoul, don't worry you’re not alone. It’s more often used as one of the minor grape varieties of Chateauneuf-du-Pape than as a single varietal wine. Picpoul comes in Blanc, Gris and Noir versions and this one – the white (or blanc) – is the most common. You might also see it spelled as Piquepoul. Picpoul de Pinet is a geographical indication, or AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) which is a sub-appellation of Languedoc, France. What we love the most about Picpoul is its ability to retain high levels of natural acidity, even though the growing conditions can be pretty hot. This racy little number is grown in a Mediterranean climate, primarily in southern France, so you’d maybe expect it to be lower in acidity. On the contrary, what you get is a medium to full bodied wine with plenty of mouthfeel and a great backbone of acidity. Picpoul is not as popular or as widely distributed as Pinot Gris or Chardonnay, so when you find a great quality Picpoul de Pinet like this one from Racine, you want to scoop it up. We chose this wine at this time of the year because it’s the perfect transition wine for Springtime. After a long winter of heavy reds, it’s nice to switch to warmer weather with a white wine that still has lots of body and flavour intensity. Don’t wait to drink this wine! It’s ready for you now and shouldn’t be over chilled or you might miss out on some of the gorgeous fruit flavours. We recommend serving at about 10 – 12 C.

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How it looks

Bright and clear, almost water white with hints of green.

How it smells

You’ll love the intense aromatics - beautiful aromas of honeydew melon, wet stones, MacIntosh apples and peaches. You might also get a hint of delicate white flowers on the nose. Don’t be surprised if you keep going back to the aroma again and again.

How it tastes

The palate boasts of steely minerality, Bartlett pear, Golden Delicious apple, sweet Meyer lemon and a hint of tangerine. It’s almost full-bodied with an unbelievable backbone of acidity that doesn’t come across as too racy. Mouth-watering with a round texture and lots of tasty fruit, make this versatile Picpoul a wine you can crush on a warm day or cozy up and contemplate by the fire. Remember, too cold and you'll mute the delicate fruit flavours and increase the acidity so try and keep the temperature in check.

Recommended food pairing

The easiest pairing for this versatile wine is take out sushi especially tuna sashimi and California rolls. You can also sip on this with fresh avocado with a bit of rock salt and lemon or enjoy with a fresh salad topped with salmon and citrus vinaigrette.