Pineau des Charentes is a type of French fortified wine known as "vin de liqueur". It is produced in the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime in the southwestern region of France. The wine is a blend of three parts grape juice and one part Cognac eau-de-vie (a clear, colorless fruit brandy), which is then matured in oak barrels for at least 12 months.
The wine comes in three different varieties: white, rose, and red. The white and rose Pineau des Charentes are fruit-forward and sweet, typically served chilled as an aperitif or with dessert. The red version meanwhile, has a richer and more complex flavour profile with notes of ripe berries and can be served chilled or at room temperature.
Pineau des Charentes wines can also be aged for many years, during which the flavours deepen and the wine becomes more concentrated.
The production of Pineau des Charentes is tightly regulated by the French AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) to ensure quality and protect the regional wine-making traditions. Complete with a unique balance between the sweetness of the grape juice and the strength of the Cognac brandy, Pineau des Charentes is a distinctive and internationally recognized wine.
