Poitou-Charentes Specialities

A region of famous brandies...

On a site where the land and the ocean meet to create an ideal atmosphere for vine, the vineyards stretch on the limestone slopes of the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions. Here, the grapes are nourished by the sun and by the rains coming from the Atlantic Ocean.

1589: The Pineau... by accident

Pineau des Charentes

It is in these lands that the Pineau des Charentes saw the light. Legend has it that the Pineau is not only the fruit of the vine but also of a stroke of luck. In 1589, a winegrower poured by mistake some grape must (unfermented grape juice) in a barrel that contained some brandy.

A few years later, during a rich harvest, as he needed an extra barrel, he found this precious barrel and discovered a clear and wonderful beverage.

The Pineau des Charentes was born. Ever since, for the past 4 centuries, the winegrowers of Charentes strive to respect the traditions inherited from generation to generation. The Pineau comes in 2 types, the White and the Rosé. The grape varieties used to make the White Pineau rich with its flowery aromas are: Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard, Semillon, Sauvignon and Montils. The particularly fruity nectar of the Pineau Rosé is acquired by ripening of the red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon et Malbec, and Merlot et Malbec.

After many years of aging in oak barrels, the Pineau of Charentes reaches its perfect balance. However it can not be marketed until authorized by the "Commission de Dégustation" under the control of the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine).

The Cognac

The "Cognac" Delimited Area extends along the banks of the Charente all the way to the Atlantic coast, covering a large part of the Charente region, all of the Charente-Maritime and a few areas of the Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres.

The entire Cognac vineyard covers around 80.000 hectares. There are 15.000 plantations that produce white wine for the production of Cognac.

The main grape variety that is planted is Ugni blanc (mostly "Folle Blanche" and "Colombard").

The "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" zone is divided into different vintage regions each with their own characteristics.

The 5 vintage regions spread in concentric circles around Segonzac and Cognac.

Cognac

The wines...

Vins du Loudunais Saumur appellation, similar to the Loire Valley wines

Vins du Haut-Poitou

Vins du Thouarsais

Vins de pays Charentais, the white wines are sold under the "Blanc marine" label

Vins de pays de la Vienne

The sea fruits...

The Marennes-Oléron oysters and moules (mussels) de Bouchots.

	The Marennes-Oléron oysters The exploited areas are about 3,000 hectares of sea parks and more than 3,200 hectares of " claires ", it is the largest centre of oyster growing in the world. What contributes to the particularity of the Marennes-Oléron oyster, is the manner in which it is produced.
Oysters of Marennes-Oléron

The moules de Bouchots production's area are nearby Fouras, Brouage, Charron, in the islands of Ré, Oléron and in the bay of l'Aiguillon.

...Cheeses and other milk products

Goat cheeses

Named Chabis or Chabichou, or depending from their production areas like Lezay, Bougon, Saint-Loup, La Motte-St-Héray, Sèvre et Belle, Soignon...

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) since july 1990, the Chabichou du Poitou is one of the oldest cheeses of France.

The Charentes-Poitou butter (AOC)

Chabichou du Poitou

And also...

The salt production on île de Ré or 'île d'Oléron.

The snails.

The melon of Haut-Poitou