🍷 Pineau des Charentes
A French drink made from grape juice and Cognac spirit.
Pineau des Charentes is a French drink made from grape juice and cognac spirit. It comes from the Charente area, the same region that makes cognac. It is sweet, and by type it belongs to the mistelles.
It is made simply. Young cognac spirit is added to grape juice that has not fermented. The spirit stops fermentation, so the grape sugar stays in the drink. The blend is then aged in barrels. Strength is usually about 17%, and ageing starts at 18 months.
There are white and rosé versions. It is served chilled, most often as an aperitif or with dessert. It is related to other mistelles: it shares the origin of its spirit with cognac and the method with other French sweet drinks. It is part of the local terroir of the Charente.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Mistelle
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ French wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Mistelle, 🥃 Cognac
Frequently asked questions
What is Pineau des Charentes?
It is a sweet French drink made from grape juice and cognac spirit, aged in barrels.
How strong is Pineau des Charentes?
Usually about 17% alcohol, aged for at least 18 months.
How is Pineau des Charentes different from cognac?
Cognac is a distilled spirit, while Pineau is a blend of juice and such a spirit, so it is sweeter and weaker.
Similar
🍷 Floc de Gascogne · 🍷 Ratafia de Champagne · 🍷 Macvin du Jura · 🍷 Grower Champagne · 🍷 Château-Chalon · 🍷 Saignée rosé
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.