Pineau de Charentes Forums

StAubyns

Hi all you Pineau buffs

I have heard quite a bit about this aperitif and am looking forward to my first taste.

As it is unlikely that we will get to France this year I have been looking on the internet. Oddbins do it at about £8 a bottle but the P&P is also £8.

My niece tells me - she lives in France by the way - that the Oddbins Pineau does not look like the stuff she buys in France and not to bother. She also tells me that it is similar to Muscatel, which I find too sweet for my taste.

However, we have friends going to France in a weeks time so I could have a genuine bottle in my hands in a couple of weeks.

So, will I like it?

and what brand, type - I understand it can be blond or even rose in colour - would you recommend?

thanks

Geoff

GerryD

Have a look at the Chateau de Deau in St Andre de Lidon. They also produce the best Cognac you will ever find.
Gerry

JockandRita

silversurfa

Sweet wine , not a table wine,, made from raisins rather than grape. sweet dessert wine, not bad , similar to a light sherry, try malaga wine or portugese marsala, warming!

Suenliam

Drink it chilled as an aperitif. It's a sort of mixture of wine and cognac at about 18 degrees alcohol. Lovely stuff, I don't like sweet dessert wine at all but I could drink Pineau every day. We'll be in Charante in about 2 weeks time ready to stock up.

I prefer the rose one, but the blond is also very nice. Not too much difference between them - try them both for research purposes only of course Wink

Sue

StAubyns

Thanks for the replies

When I saw it compared to Muscatel, which I don't like because its its too sweet, I did wonder if it was worth pursuing.

but the replies give me hope, so I will let you know what I think when I have tasted it Very Happy

Geoff

bigfrank3

Pineau is made from grape juice and cognac and as everyone says is delicious to drink. Try it with melon it is superb. Frank Very Happy

trevorf

We also love the stuff. Best description I can think of is like a light sherry. Last time in France we hung around the pineau section for a while to see which brand the locals bought. 3 out of the next 4 went for the same brand so that was good enough for us!
Unfortunately we never made a note of the name Embarassed

Trevor

JWW

Years ago we turned up for church in the local town in France to discover they'd had the equivalent of 'Songs of Praise' so their service had been an hour earlier than advertised on the board. However, they invited us to the rectory along with the TV crew and others - we didn't see any sign of coffee but the Pineau flowed like water! It was our first taste, and we were converted!