Picpoul de Pinet ‘La Sauterelle’
Green grasshoppers – la Sauterelle – appear in the vineyards at the same time that the vines begin to flower (late spring).
The wine consists of 100% Picpoul (or Piquepoul) – a very popular, traditional local variety planted on sun-drenched hillsides called “costières” (coastal region) in the Mediterranean garrigue and near the Etang de Thau – a coastal lagoon situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan.
Picpoul is known as “the Muscadet of the South” in France, and locally as “Lip Stinger” because of its vibrant acidity. It is to the Mediterranean coast of France what Albariño is to northwest Spain… the default wine for fresh shellfish and seafood.
This wine is both gentle and refreshing with and elegant nose, lifted notes of citrus (grapefruit, lime zest) and stone fruit (peach, apricot) culminating in a vibrant palate of green apple crispness.
Picpoul de Pinet is not only splendid with seafood and shellfish as well as other traditional Mediterranean dishes, but also with cheese and chocolate!
It will complement a vast array of dishes such as Asian cuisine, sushi, spicy fare and all sorts of seafood and grilled fish – eg monkfish and crayfish bisque.
About the Producer
Les Costieres de Pomerols
Gaining AOC status in 2013, six communes are entitled to the name Picpoul de Pinet: Florensac, Pomérols, Pinet, Castelnau de Guers, Montagnac and Meze. It is the only Languedoc appellation dedicated solely to dry white wine production.
Production is dominated by four large cooperative wineries, which make 82% of production, with the rest made by 24 individual producers.
Les Costieres de Pomérols, a Cave Coopérative founded in 1932, is located in the top commune of Pomérols. It merged with the Cave de Castelnau de Guers in 2003 and the Cave de Mèze in 2007. The company employs 25 people and produces an average of 130,000 hectoliters.
Its 350 members control 1,800 ha of vineyards, of which 400 are classified as AOP Picpoul de Pinet. Les Costières de Pomerols are based on the watershed of the Thau lagoon and their vineyards stretch over vast sun-light terraces with clay/limestone soils. As well as Picpoul they grow Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Terret, Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan. Production is 54% white, 28% rosé and 18% red.
