Picpoul de Pinet AOC with Ormarine
The Vinalogy: Picpoul is the Surfer Girl of Wine Grapes!
Picpoul de Pinet is a crisp, refreshing white wine that tastes of lemon blossom, citrus peel, salt and herbs and it hails from the Languedoc on the Mediterranean coast of southern France. The grape is officially known as Piquepoul in this area, which translates roughly as ‘lip-stinger’ - fairly accurate, given the acidity, although ‘Picpoul’ is the spelling that seems to have stuck. The Picpoul grape can be found in a few places around the world now but the OG place for it is the appellation (designated production area) of Picpoul de Pinet, which wraps around the Étang de Thau lagoon between Montpellier and Béziers. Look out for that tall, green, embossed bottle and see more on the appellation and the Vinalogy here.
What we tasted:
Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet 2025, £12.50 (£8.50 mix 6), Majestic
A beautiful, benchmark example of a young Picpoul de Pinet.
Ormarine ‘Cuvée Estela’ Picpoul de Pinet 2024, £15.50 (£14 mix 6) Majestic
The more savoury, gastronomic style, with a creamy texture from fine lees ageing, hence ‘Élevée sur Lies Fines’.
Ormarine ‘Acaciae’ 2020
A premium, richer, gastronomic and aromatic expression of Picpoul de Pinet where the wine was aged in acacia barrels.
DO Rias Baixas: Albariño
The Vinalogy: Albariño is the Mermaid of Wine Grapes!
Albariño is the grape taking the summer and all its seafood delights by storm! You may know it in its lighter, spritzier, Portuguese guise as Vinho Verde but it’s the Rías Baixas region in Galicia, northwestern Spain on the Atlantic coast where we find the version that’s grabbing the headlines. The area here is cool, damp and pretty green and there’s a maritime climate with granite-rich soils that the grape loves. These Albariño wines are substantial, food friendly white wines packed with waxy citrus and peach with a distinct briny note and a bitter kick on the finish. They are generally unoaked and make perfect pairings for the region’s own seafood and shellfish. See more about the grape here and the region here!
What we tasted:
Pazo de Señorans 2024, £23.99 Virgin Wines, BBR,
A bang on, classic example of a top notch, young Albariño from Rias Baixas.
Pazo de Señorans Selección de Añada 2015, £54 VINVM £60 BBR
Did you know Albariño can age elegantly? Try this premium version from an older vintage.
Granbazán, Etiqueta Ambar, 2024, £18.95 N.D John on offer, Solent Cellar, £24
A complex, gastronomic Albariño made with hand-harvested, estate-grown grapes. This shows the weight and texture that lees ageing and long skin contact can add.
Santiago Ruiz O Rosal Rias Baixas 2025, £20.50 VINVM
Our sneaky extra, this is a blend of Albariño with local Loureiro, Treixadura, Godello and Caíño Blanco to give a quite a different style of white from the region.
A Sparkling Wine Sips Safari
A journey through three key methods of making sparkling wine with a bit of an Old World Vs New World comparison while we’re at it.
La Gioiosa Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG 2025, £12 on offer (was £14) Ocado & Amazon
Charmat method - But make it premium! Here we look at the tank method that makes Prosecco and taste the difference that location, vintage and lower sugar levels can make.
Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve, Brut NV, Hampshire £26 on offer Waitrose was £38 hattingleyvalley.com
Traditional Method - From Hampshire, England. A blend of the three champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs MCC 2020, South Africa, £24 (£21 mix 6) Majestic
Traditional Method - From South Africa. 100% Chardonnay and vintage.
Graham Beck Rosé MCC 2019, South Africa, £24 (£21 mix 6) Majestic
Traditional Method - From South Africa. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Pét Nat Brut Rosé, £15 M&S and Ocado
Pétillant Naturel method - From Kent, England. Where the wine finishes a single fermentation in the bottle, leaving the yeast sediment to add flavours and creaminess. Made from Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay.
