Pineau des Charentes

The rich, bold aroma of Pineau des Charentes is the fruit of unique expertise. For more than 4 centuries, our winegrowers and cellar masters have shaped this delicate wine by adhering closely to traditional production methods passed down through generations. The grape must and cognac eau de vie come from the same estate, the same vineyard, and are made by the same people. Their expertise is passed on from generation to generation.

The greatness of Pineau des Charentes lies in the five essential stages of its production.

Harvest

Once the grapes have gorged themselves on sunshine and the aroma of the Charentes soil, they are picked from late September onwards. This process takes about one month.

Pressing

The grapes are then pressed: white ones as soon as they are harvested, and red ones after several hours of maceration, to give them the beautiful bright colour typical of Pineau des Charentes.

Mutage

Next comes mutage, which is the addition of alcohol and the key component in the production process. Cognac eau de vie aged for at least one year and containing at least 60% alcohol is added to the grape must, to stop it fermenting and add sweetness.

Ageing

Pineau des Charentes must aged in oak barrels. During this last phase, the wine acquires its last notes of aromas.
Pineau White is aged for at least 18 months, including 12 months in barrels, while Pineau Rosé and Red are aged for 12 months, of which 8 months are in barrels.
This patience pays off, giving Pineau des Charentes a harmony of distinctive and intricate aromas and a roundness and freshness on the palate. Its bouquet can be further enhanced by ageing in oak barrels for 5 or even 10 years, to create Old and Very Old Pineau des Charentes.

Bottling

Because its AOC status is subject to very strict rules, Pineau des Charentes must be bottled in the region where it is produced.


In 1945, Pineau des Charentes became France’s first fortified wine to enjoy appellation d’origine contrôlée (appellation of controlled origin – AOC) status. The appellation area is the same as that of Cognac, essentially consisting of the regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime, and a few towns in Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres.

Between land and ocean, the region’s unique geography is rich in contrasts, with a maritime climate of mild, wet winters and sunny summers that helps the grapes to reach perfect ripeness.  

Pineau des Charentes is made by blending grape must with cognac eau de vie – cognac distilled for at least one year.

To receive AOC status, the grape must and eau de vie must come from the same estate.

Between land and ocean, the Charentes’ maritime climate is perfect for wine growing, with calcareous soil and mild sea air boosting grape growth.

Climate

The region’s sunny climate confers a special character on the cognac and grape must used to make Pineau des Charentes. Thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic, winters are mild and wet, with annual rainfall of 800 to 1,000 millimetres spread over 130 to 150 days. Summers are not excessively hot, and clouds help to keep the sea breezes humid, giving the grapes time to mature.

Soil

The appellation area is characterized a succession of large, rolling sedimentary plains with no extremes of relief.
Its soils are very varied, with a predominance of clay and limestone, as well as sand in coastal areas such as the Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oléron. Pineau des Charentes reflects this rich diversity.

Grapes

Each grape variety confers its own particular aromatic characteristics on Pineau des Charentes.
The white version is made mainly from ugni blanc, colombard, sémillon, sauvignon, montils, merlot noir, merlot blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, jurançon blanc and folle blanche.
Pineau des Charentes red and rosé are made using merlot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec.

 

Wine has been grown in the Charentes region since Roman times. Win culture began in Saintonge in the third century, spread to the Aunis and Angoumois districts, and eventually covered the whole of the present-day regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime. The town of Cognac lay at the centre of this new industry. So, Pineau des Charentes shares much of its history with Cognac, both draw on the same traditional skills and expertise.

Initially reserved mainly for consumption at weddings and other family events, Pineau des Charentes became popular throughout the region, and eventually across France.

The industry began to organise itself in 1920, and obtained appellation d’origine status in 1935. On 12 October 1945 Pineau des Charentes went one step further by being named an appellation d’origine contrôlée wine – a label that guarantees its origin and quality. Since then it has been exported across the world.

No one is quite sure how Pineau des Charentes came into being, but according to legend it was the result of an accident. A wine grower carelessly threw some grape must into a barrel of cognac eau de vie, and years later discovered that he’d created a limpid wine the colour of sunshine. And so Pineau des Charentes was born.