As the sun rises she’s already there: the girl with the salt in her hair and her windsurfer sail by the shore. She crunches a green apple before zipping up her wetsuit and heading out onto the lagoon. The freshness of the water invigorates her senses, her lips stinging with saltwater in the wind. She gets up effortlessly, lithe and trim, beautifully balanced and gliding over the briny surface past the oyster shells hanging from ropes. She looks at ease but is laser-focussed, eyes on the horizon and she zips across the water, the golden sun reflecting mirrored by her natural, sun bleached locks. Her laid-back vibe belies the quietly confident precision that comes from a lifetime of training.
Picpoul is like the windsurfer girl on the lagoon in the Languedoc, full of energy and perfectly in tune with the breeze. The bright, crisp acidity and salinity reflect the sea air, with flavours of lemon and lime zest, grapefruit, crunchy green apple and a whisper of oyster shell. She’s fresh, lean and always invigorating, quietly complex yet so easy to drink.
Geek Alert! In the Languedoc, the grape is known as Piquepoul, which means “lip stinger”; a nod to the grape’s high, citrusy acidity.
PICPOUL SIPS SAFARI
Picpoul 1: Languedoc, France
The most famous and important region for this grape is Picpoul de Pinet in France’s Languedoc region, near the Mediterranean coast and the famous Etang de Thau lagoon. Despite the appellation’s name however, the grape here is spelled ‘Piquepoul’ and the wine is crisp and citrussy - perfect pairing for the local oysters. Look out for that tall green bottle with the embossing on it!
Try: Ormarine ‘Villemarin’ 2025, £12.50 (£10 mix 6) Majestic
Read my One Minute Wine Ace Guide to Picpoul de Pinet here!
Picpoul 2: Central Coast, California
While Picpoul is much less known outside France, Central Coast California has become a key producer of Picpoul wines, particularly in the cooler Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County areas. These versions have a similar zestiness to those from the Languedoc but with a slightly fuller body and more stone fruit flavours.
Try: Bonny Doon, Central Coast Picpoul, £19 The Wine Society
Picpoul 3: Catalonia, Spain
In Catalonia, there’s a heritage programme where Spanish producers are reviving indigenous grapes and in the Pla de Bages DO, single varietal Picpoul, known here as ‘Picapoll’ is produced. These wines showcase the characteristic citrus and green apple notes but offer a touch more minerality than those from the France or the USA.
Also Try: There are few notable regions where Picpoul wines are emerging, though it’s still fairly low profile. Texas High Plains of all places is producing wines that are lively and refreshing and Australia is experimenting with Picpoul too, particularly in Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley, where they have a rounder, riper profile than the French versions.
Picpoul is:
🎨 Very pale lemon in colour
🏋️♂️ Crisp & zesty with very high acidity
👃 Freshly squeezed lemon & sea salt
📍 A star in Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France
🍴 Loves oysters, mussels & white fish
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