Crisp acidity and balanced minerality make the Bonny Doon Picpoul the perfect wine to end summer with. And, at under $20, this Central Coast wine is affordable too.
Is there a more fitting way to bid adieu to summer than with a glass of Picpoul wine? Picpoul, a white grape from the Languedoc region of Southern France, has been used to make wine since the 17th C.
Through the lens of history, that means that when royal absolutism was peaking in France, Picpoul was surely on the menu. In fact, Picpoul wine may have been on Louis XIV’s dinner menu.
I mean, who is to say that after a delightful Picpoul filled dinner, this lip smackingly good wine didn’t influence Louis XIV to transform Versailles from a hunting lodge into the extravagant palace that it is today. A few bottles of wine from what is now the Languedoc-Roussillon’s Picpoul de Pinet AOC could have totally been responsible for that. Or, he was just an egomaniac – we’ll never know.
But, I digress.
The Picpoul grapes in Bonny Doon Beeswax Vineyard come from the Arroyo Seco AVA, one of the oldest AVAs in California, and home to one of California’s first commercial vineyards, Mission Ranch. The Arroyo Seco AVA is located in Monterey County, just about 40 miles from the Monterey Bay. Picpoul really digs coastal areas like this because they have the benefit of cool sea air during the day, and mild temperatures at night. With it’s close proximity to the ocean air, Beeswax Vineyard was made for the Picpoul de Pinet grape.
California Picpoul is all about that laid back, crisp, breeze-at-your back beachy energy.
What is Picpoul?
Picpoul is a white French grape known for it’s lip stinging acidity. The word ‘Picpoul’ does, after all, translate from the French as “lip stinging”. Notes of Meyer lemon, white flower blossoms, and perhaps grapefruit emerge on the palate.
Picpoul blanc grapes are as briny as the inside of an oyster shell and have a long, dry finish that seems to linger with amusement on the palate.
The grape also goes by the name Folle blanche.
How to Pair Picpoul
Picpouls are all about that coastal vibe: salt water air, brine, and waves of minerality. Pair with fresh oysters, octopus, crudo, or mussels. If it came from the sea, it will likely pair well with that Picpoul acidity and brininess.
Where to Buy Bonny Doon Wines
When I go to the grocery store, I love checking out what wines they’re stocking; it’s a great way to see what the average wine consumer is drawn to. So the last time I went to my local Whole Foods, I took a spin (okay, I probably wasn’t spinning with the shopping cart) – I took a leisurely stroll down the wine aisle, and what did I see?
There it was, a small beacon of Picpoul light, gleaming from atop the shelf. I grabbed a bottle and went on my merry way. That was a very long way around a simple question: where to buy Bonny Doon wines. Answer: check your local grocery store, or go to the Bonny Doon Vineyards website.
Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, in 2021, the Bonny Doon Vineyard tasting room in the charming town of Davenport had closed. Here’s hoping it opens again in the future.
More California Picpoul to Try
Some of the most exciting expressions of Picpoul wine come from right here in California!