Picpoul Blanc
White, from France
Picpoul Blanc is a high-acid white grape from southern France, best known for crisp, citrusy Picpoul de Pinet.
Also known as
Picpoul, Piquepoul
On old plates as
Piquepoul blanc
Picpoul Blanc, also called Picpoul, Piquepoul, or Picapoll, is the white-skinned mutation of Piquepoul Noir, an old variety from the Languedoc region of southern France. Genetic registers record its parentage as a mutation of Piquepoul Noir, and it has been cultivated in France for centuries alongside other historic local grapes. The name Picpoul hints at its lip-stinging acidity.
Today it is grown mainly in the Languedoc and the Rhone Valley of France, where it is the sole grape of the Picpoul de Pinet appellation around the Etang de Thau. Plantings also appear in Catalonia, small amounts in Portugal, and in the New World, including Washington, California, Texas, and Australia.
In the glass, Picpoul Blanc is typically dry, light-bodied, and low in alcohol with green-gold color. Its signature is lively, mouthwatering acidity carrying flavors of lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, a salty-mineral streak, and sometimes white pepper or gentle herbs. Most wines are unoaked and best enjoyed young, especially with shellfish.
Where to taste Picpoul Blanc
2 wineries pour it, under any of its names.
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