Halter Ranch Vinyards

Picpoul is also known as Piquepoul. Picpoul translates to “lip stinger.” The Picpoul variety originally goes back to the French Languedoc region. The grape is frequently found as a white grape but there are also some Picpoul Noir grapes available. Today the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation includes Picpoul as one of its 13 grape varieties allowed. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Picpoul Noir vines are pruned in a goblet style whereas Picpoul Gris vines are pruned with either the aforementioned goblet style or the bilateral cordon de royat style.

Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles has been growing Picpoul (Piquepoul Blanc) for many years and wrote that this grape is known in France for its minerality, acidity and lemon flavor. On their website they wrote about bringing Picpoul into the country and its release from quarantine. “Picpoul, with its reputation for sharp acidity, was the first of these high-acid whites that we brought into quarantine, and was in fact the first supplemental varietal we brought in of any sort. It was released from quarantine in 1998, and we spent the next two years propagating and grafting it.  We planted approximately one acre of Picpoul in 2000, and received our first significant harvest in 2003. It has been such a success that we grafted over two acres of Roussanne to Picpoul in the winter of 2005, and got our first harvest from that new acreage in the fall of 2008. We plan to plant two additional acres of Picpoul in the next few years.”

In the US Picpoul is one of the Rhone Rangers’ 22 grape varieties allowed. According to the Rhone Rangers website:

“Picpoul/Piquepoul Blanc

Native to the Languedoc area, Piquepoul means “lip stinger,” an apt description of its high acidity must. Prior to the phylloxera invasion, Picquepoul was popular, and often blended with the Clairette. When vineyards were replanted in the early 1900s, however, its low yields did not gain it prominent placement in the vineyards of Southern France. It is still used in the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and has floral aromatics and soft tannins.”

While visiting Halter Ranch earlier this spring, we tasted one of their blends. The vineyards include several Rhone varieties including the Picpoul Blanc. For our Wine Trail Traveler article we wrote, “We started with the 2015 Rosé, a blend of Grenache, Picpoul Blanc, Mourvèdre and Syrah. The light orange colored wine had notes of light red berry fruits. The finish was citrus yielding to mineral. At the bottom of the bottle there were white crystals. The winemaker, Kevin Sass, wrote a note for the visitors stating that the crystals were natural and reflected the calcium limestone soils in the vineyards. There was a faint hint of salt on the rosé’s finish.”

Picpoul is typically used as a blending grape rather than as a single grape variety for a wine. As you travel to wineries look for wines made with Picpoul and add it to your list of grape varieties you have tasted.

Cheers!
Kathy