Pineau des Charentes
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Cabernet FrancCabernet-SauvignonColombardFolle BlancheJurançon BlancMerlot BlancMerlot NoirMeslier Saint-FrançoisMontilsSauvignonSémillonTrousseau GrisUgni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano)Cot
Terroir
Natural factors
- Zone spanning 4 départements: almost all of Charente-Maritime, a large part of Charente, and a few communes in Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres.
Human factors
- AOC recognised by decree of 12 October 1945, among the very first fortified wines (vins de liqueur) to receive this designation in France.
Product characteristics
- White: pale straw to golden appearance; fruity, floral, and honey aromas; with age, the colour deepens to old gold, and the bouquet develops spice, dried fruit, walnut, and oxidative notes.
- Île de Ré and Oléron versions: eaux-de-vie described as 'supple, fruity, gentle, and lightly iodine-tinged', with notes of rose and citrus.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 3 juillet 2025
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — BNIC