Vignobles Canet Picpoul de Pinet White Wine, France 2023

Picpoul is one of southern France’s top whites, and even has its own region: Picpoul de Pinet. Once a local secret, it now graces the world’s trendiest wine lists. Loved for its citrus flavor and simple charm, it’s a top Pinot Grigio alternative.

ignobles Canet Picpoul de Pinet is a crisp and lemony fresh, light-bodied white from the south of France. Consider it an unexpected—and delicious—alternative to Pinot Grigio.

The wine is 100% Picpoul (pronounced ‘peek-pool’), a white grape native to southern France’s Languedoc. Most unusually for France, it has its own appellation—Picpoul de Pinet AOC—located right near the seaside on the sunny Mediterranean coast. It takes its name from the nearby village of Pinet, and the region stretches from the ancient Roman village of Pézenas towards the fishing port of Sète on the coast.

Best-selling wine writer Oz Clarke says the name Picpoul means ‘lipstinger’ (which is hard to imagine for such a mild-mannered white), while locals claim it refers to the habit of local chickens (‘poules’) pecking fallen grapes off the ground. Either way, Vignobles Canet Picpoul de Pinet is made under the watchful eye of Château Canet, one of the most respected domaines in the nearby Minervois.

So, what can you expect in the glass? Back to top critic Olly Smith: “Picpoul is the south of France’s answer to northern French Muscadet with its similarly lemony zing but sometimes also with a subtle floral whiff.” Your exclusive from Château Canet is deliciously crisp, with pear and peach aromas, followed by zippy citrus flavors on the palate. Not surprisingly, given the vineyard’s proximity to the Mediterranean, it makes a refreshing accompaniment to fish (raw, grilled or prepared in a light sauce).