Pineau of Charentes

Definition

The pineau of Charentes is a Mistelle, a Alcoholic drink of the " type; liqueur wine of quality produced in an area déterminée" (VLQPRD) obtained by mixture of Must (i.e. of grape juice) and of brandy of cognac. This drink is produced in an area which contains part of the Charente-Maritime and Charente. The pineau of Charentes is a AOC (Appellation of controlled origin). Its production zone extends on 1500 hectares and recovers about that of the cognac. The final output of the pineau of Charentes per hectare of vine necessary to its development is of 27 hl. Its manufacture is authorized only by the individual home distillers or the producers' cooperatives, with the products of their harvest, in the respect of the local practice.

History

According to the legend, the pineau of Charentes is the fruit of the chance and was created by a Charente-native vine grower in 1589. The man poured by error of the grape must in a barrel which contained brandy of cognac. When the barrel was open a few years later, the pineau of Charentes had been born…

An anecdote: The pineau is the mixture of a nonalcoholic product, must, and of cognac, alcoholic. For the US market, it is regarded as a Prémix, for which the American regulation is Draconian. Thus, must was slightly fermented for the US market: the mixture of 2 alcohols not being more a prémix. This practice seems more not to be of topicality.

The different pineal ones

There exist 2 great types of pineal: white and rosy .

Red name pineau does not exist, officially, in the range of pineal of Charentes. It can appear natural when one often considers the color “ruby” of the rosy pineau. However, even if it is sometimes used by the consumers and unquestionable producing, it is abusive.

Moreover, the red pineau is another vernacular name of the type of vine Pineau d' Aunis which is not used for the development of the pineau of Charentes. It is thus important not to confuse. Other mistakes are also possible with the type of vine Pinot, at the time of a conversation.

The white pineau

The white pineau is out-of-date out of barrels of Chêne for one duration which is at least of a year. The finished product after ageing must have a Degré of alcohol located between 16 and 22°. There exist three other names which are based over the duration of ageing. The pineau white old man for a 5 years ageing minimum and the white pineau very old or extra-old man for an ageing of more than 10 years. The type of vines used are: white Ugni, Insane white, Colombard, Meslier Saint-François (called locally White rowed), white Jurançon, Montils, Sémillon, Sauvignon, white Merlot, black Merlot, Cabernet-sauvignon, frank Cabernet.

The rosy pineau

The characteristics of the rosy pineau are appreciably the same ones as those of the white pineau, if it is not that the minimum duration of ageing is 8 months. The rosy pineau is elaborate starting from red grape must. The red grapes macerate some time so that the skin of the fruit gives color. One uses as type of vines: Cabernet-sauvignon, frank Cabernet, Malbec, black Merlot.
On finds same names old , very old .

Use of the pineau

The pineau is tasted with the Apéritif, it must be been useful very fresh and without ice. The optimal temperature of tasting is of 6°C

One can also serve it, in entry, in a half melon; with Foie gras; it also returns in many Recettes of kitchen.

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