"Pineau, fruit of the vine and of an accident" La Rochelle Local Custom Tip by Bixente

The two departments Charentais, Charente and Charente-Maritime produce an increasingly wide range of local wines and vine wines, white, red and rosé. The wine growers organise themselves in order to diversify and change the image of the vineyard.
The white wines represent more than 80 % of the production. Dry, light and fruity, they are the perfect accompaniment for seafood dishes. Among the white pure vine wines, the ‘colombard’ is particularly typical of the area.
The red, fruity wines, best drunk young, perfectly accompany local, traditional food.
The rosé wines are gaining more and more popularity all the time.

We are told that in the 16th century, a wine grower made the mistake of pouring fresh fermenting grape juice, (must), into a barrel still containing brandy. This mixture stopped the fermentation of the must and gave alcoholic strength to the wine.
This is how pineau was born; a liquor wine, appellation d’origine contrôlée. The operation of mutage makes ‘musts’ inactive by stopping fermentation with the addition of alcohol. Pineau exists in white and rosé, according to the type of vines used.
The alcoholometric volume must be at least of 16 %. Pineau ages in oak barrels.
The preparation of pineau follows strict rules, which guarantee a superior quality. You will notice on each bottle, the guarantee stamp of the trade union of the Producers of Pineau des Charentes. Pineau has to be served chilled, without ice and in general, offered as an aperitive. It is a good accompaniment for melon as well as foie gras.