Piquepoul Wine: Grapes, 10 Best Bottles To Buy, Food Pairings (2024)

Piquepoul grapes originated from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France and have been around since the 16th century.

These juicy grapes produce lip-smacking wines with citrus fruit notes and crisp acidity. In fact, Piquepoul means “stings the lip,” which refers to the grape’s high acidity levels!

In this article, we’ll explore Piquepoul in detail - a quick intro to the grapes, wine styles and characteristics, the 10 best wines to buy in 2024, and food pairings. 

A Quick Intro To Piquepoul Grapes

The Piquepoul grape, also known as Picpoul or Picapoll, is a wine grape variety primarily grown in France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region. It’s also grown widely in Spain’s Catalonia region and other parts of the world like the USA and Australia.

Piquepoul vines are prone to phylloxera bugs and mildew, so they flourish in dry regions with sandy soils.

The Picpoul grape exists in three natural mutations - Piquepoul Noir (Picpoul Noir), Piquepoul Blanc (Picpoul Blanc), and Piquepoul Gris (Picpoul Gris.)

Here’s a quick look at each Picpoul grape variety:

• Piquepoul Blanc: Piquepoul Blanc is a white-skinned grape that grows in large bunches. The berries are medium-sized and produce lively, full-bodied white wines. This grape is sensitive to gray rot.
• Piquepoul Noir: Piquepoul Noir is a blue-black skinned grape used for producing Rosé wines. It’s sensitive to gray rot and powdery mildew.
• Piquepoul Gris: The Piquepoul Gris grape produces white wines with good acidity. It’s sensitive to powdery mildew and gray rot.

Piquepoul Wine Styles And Characteristics

Piquepoul grapes are used to make red, white, and Rose wine styles:

A. White Wines

Picpoul Blanc grapes are used to make refreshing white wines that are full-bodied, and have a green-gold color and soft, delicate white flower aromas.

B. Red Wines

Piquepoul red wines are made from the Piquepoul Noir grape variety - a blending grape rarely used in varietal wine production. The luscious Piquepoul red wine bottles typically open with a rich red flower scent, crisp acidity, and high alcohol content.

C. Rose Wines

Piquepoul Rose wines are made from Picpoul Noir grapes sourced from the finest vines. These pale pink wines typically boast a light body, fresh acidity, and flavors of strawberry and citrus fruit. 

10 Piquepoul Wines to Savor in 2024

Here are some of the best Piquepoul wine bottles you should try:

1. 2017 Abadal Nuat, Pla de Bages, Spain
2. 2020 Les Costieres de Pomerols - BeauVignac Le Jade Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
3. 2017 Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
4. 2016 Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 
5. 2018 Bonny Doon Vineyard Picpoul, Arroyo Seco, USA
6. 2020 Chateau de Castelnau Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
7. 2020 Domaine Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
8. 2019 Domaine La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet Brechallune, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
9. 2016 Coriole Picpoul, McLaren Vale, Australia
10. 2018 Cap Cette Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

1. 2017 Abadal Nuat, Pla de Bages, Spain ($27)

This white wine from southern France has a citrus fruit flavor with aromas of wet stone fruit, white flowers, and aromatic herbs. 

2. 2020 Les Costieres de Pomerols - BeauVignac Le Jade Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($15)

This well-balanced and easy-drinking wine has high acidity, a citrus fruit flavor, and aromas of white flower and juicy pear.

3. 2017 Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($18)

This wine from the Languedoc Roussillon region has high acidity and a citrus fruit flavour with subtle herb, pear, and fennel notes.

4. 2016 Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($19)

This pale yellow wine has a smooth texture, extraordinary finesse, and an exotic nose of white flowers with citrus fruit notes. 

5. 2018 Bonny Doon Vineyard Picpoul, Arroyo Seco, USA ($22)

The wine offers a lively texture, crisp acidity, light apple aromas, and flavors of lemon pith and stone fruits.

6. 2020 Chateau de Castelnau Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($11)

This wine from the Languedoc Roussillon region shines with crisp minerality and a light yellow color with green highlights. It has aromas of citrus zest with hints of minty passion fruit.

7. 2020 Domaine Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($11)

A light-bodied dry wine with a crisp palate of a citrus fruit flavour. It is fragrant on the nose - offering honeysuckle and tropical fruit aromas. 

8. 2019 Domaine La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet Brechallune, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($22)

This wine boasts a lively texture, fresh acidity, citrus flavors, and aromas of grapefruit, lemon, and white flowers.

9. 2016 Coriole Picpoul, McLaren Vale, Australia ($27)

This vintage wine shines with fresh acidity, tropical fruit aromas, and a palate of green apple and citrus fruit flavors.

10. 2018 Cap Cette Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($15)

A bright pale-yellow white wine with a nose of fresh citrus and stone fruit notes. The palate offers remarkable freshness with a touch of acid and a long finish.

Food Pairings With Piquepoul Wine

Piquepoul wines’ brilliant acidity neutralizes the salt and iodine in most dishes. So, these wines make a great food match with oysters, shellfish, and other seafood options.

You can also enjoy a glass of Piquepoul wine with cheese, chocolate, salted cod with potato hash, ham croquettes, and charcuterie.

Sip a Refreshing Piquepoul While You Build a Wine Collection!

From brunch to dinner parties, Piquepoul wines are perfect for any occasion. However, these wines aren’t investment-worthy.

Head to the Vinovest website to discover the finest investment-grade wines. 

Vinovest helps you easily buy, store, and sell authentic white wines, fortified wine, Châteauneuf du Pape bottles, and other wines from the Rhone Valley, New Zealand, South Africa, or any location in the world.