Pineau des Charentes is a French fortified wine that’s intently associated to cognac however typically missed and misunderstood. A potent and completely proportioned mix of grape juice and cognac aged in oak barrels, the 2 are linked in heritage and manufacturing.
Pineau des Charentes makers are before everything winemakers, however additionally they produce cognac, pulling the juice and cognac for this distinctive aperitif from the identical winery.
Pineau des Charentes is at its core a fortified wine with a historical past deeply rooted within the Charente and Charente Maritime areas within the western a part of France. The soil, local weather, grape choice, and barrel selection contribute to creating a various fragrant palate, however the ageing in oak barrels is what creates the best variations. A pure product, with no added flavors or sugars it boasts a refreshing high quality. The considerate mix of grape juice and cognac is aged for at the very least 18th months and finer varieties, referred to as vieux pineau, are aged for at the very least seven years. The very uncommon tres vieux pineau require an ageing of 12 years or extra and name for stringent high quality and maturation requirements.
One sip and any notion of “fortified wine” is dispelled; Pineau des Charentes is a spirit ripe for discovery. With a low alcohol content material, it isn’t sturdy and straightforward to be loved, as an aperitif, neat, over ice or the frontrunner for a brand new wave of decrease abv cocktail creations.
Probably the most discovered are white Pineau des Charentes. With a predominantly candy palate highlighted by notes of peach, apricot, citrus and candied fruits, because it ages it turns into a beneficiant and fruity indulgence with slight acidity that makes it the right cocktail. A purple Pineau des Charentes bursts of forest fruits with notes of currant, raspberry, and blackcurrant whereas the lighter rosé has a softer palate of strawberry, sweet, and vintage rose. The candy undertones are an excellent pairing to spices, making approach for a crafted cocktail that’s balanced and daring with a touch of bitterness.
Regardless of the hue of Pineau des Charentes, this spirit’s future is brilliant, daring, and various because the creativity of any bartender’s curiosity and creativeness.
Dispelling the Myths and Misconceptions of Pineau des Charentes:
Delusion: It’s sturdy—Reality is it has an alcohol content material of 17%, a bit greater than common wine however a lot decrease than spirits.
Delusion: It’s a spirit—No, it’s a wine.
Delusion: It’s candy—Sure, after all, however it has a refreshing high quality and at all times maintains a contact of acidity. Its sugars solely come from grapes, with no components.
