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Picpoul de Pinet APPELLATION D’ORIGINE PROTEGEE PRESS PACK Syndicat de l’AOP Picpoul de Pinet 1 avenue du Picpoul - 34850 Pinet Tél. + 33 (0)4 67 06 04 44 Président : Frédéric Sumien www.picpoul-de-pinet.com Syndicat AOC Languedoc Mas de Saporta, CS 30 030 - 34973 Lattes Cedex Tél. + 33 (0)4 67 06 04 44 www.languedoc-aoc.com Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc 6, place des Jacobins - BP 221 - 11102 Narbonne Cedex Tél. + 33 (0)4 68 90 38 30 www.languedoc-wines.com Contacts Presse : Clair de Lune - Anaïs Marchand 12 rue Saint-Polycarpe - 69001 Lyon Tél. +33 (0)4 72 07 31 90 [email protected] Picpoul de Pinet GRAND VIN DU LANGUEDOC Picpoul de Pinet Environment and map Its terroir is the sea This is a land suffused with the sea breezes coming off the Mediterranean. Here, at the heart of a triangle formed by Agde, Pézenas and Sète can be found the AOC Picpoul de Pinet. Historically, the vineyards have been planted around the Thau basin and cover six communes: Castelnau-de-Guers, Florensac, Mèze, Montagnac, Pinet and Pomérols. It produces only white wines based on a single grape variety: piquepoul. Today, it is the largest white wine appellation in the Languedoc. Key figures (2018) - Area under production : 2 400 ha classed as Picpoul de Pinet of which 1 400 ha are currently in production - Production area : Castelnau-de-Guers, Florensac, Mèze, Montagnac, Pinet, Pomérols. - Number of producers : 24 independent producers and 4 caves cooperatives - Annual production : 77 000 hectolitres. - Colour produced : white - Trade : France (35 %) and export (65 %) Picpoul de Pinet APPELLATION D’ORIGINE PROTEGEE 2 www.picpoul-de-pinet.com Picpoul de Pinet A truly festive terroir AOP Picpoul de Pinet is by its very essence, refreshing, a convivial wine, great to drink among friends, a party wine. That’s why the Syndicate for the defense of AOP Picpoul de Pinet has chosen to celebrate its festive character by forming a partnership with two of the Languedoc’s liveliest events: the Béziers Féria and the Thau Jazz Festival at Mèze. The Béziers Féria in the colours of AOP Picpoul de Pinet The Béziers Féria, which takes place every year in August, is one of the Languedoc’s . Thau Jazz Festival : great summer attractions. For several years AOP Picpoul de Pinet : a leading light now, the Syndicate for the defense of AOP The Thau Jazz Festival, which takes place at Picpoul de Pinet has taken part, at the heart Mèze every year in July, has become a huge of the arenas. There’s a box where guests can event, and attracts all members of the public. taste the best wines of the appellation Since its birth in 1992, the festival has lost none between each fight. There is also an area of its original spirit: open to a great cultural reserved for VIPs, 3m x 4m panels and ushers mix, promoter of its territory, lively and open. sporting tee-shirts in the AOP Picpoul de Pinet Picpoul de Pinet producers were joint colours. founders of the festival and have always been involved. They have their own space so that . Vins, Vignes et Terroirs visitors – especially tourists – may discover This event takes place every year over two some of the riches of the area through tasting days in May and allows one to experience the appellation’s wines. The Picpoul de Pinet the life of a wine-maker. It consists of an name is firmly linked with the Festival and its educational walk through the vineyards of presence adds enormously to the event’s different terroirs, including AOP Picpoul de conviviality. Pinet. The principle is simple: a wine-maker accompanies a group of 6 to 8 members of Further information from: Syndicat de l’AOP the public and explains the vines, the Picpoul de Pinet - Tél. + 33 (0)4 67 06 04 44. landscape and the local landmarks. The key feature is a tasting of the local terroir wines in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. All for 10 € per person. Picpoul de Pinet APPELLATION D’ORIGINE PROTEGEE 3 www.picpoul-de-pinet.com Picpoul de Pinet It started with the Romans Ever since the 2nd century, viticulture has been at the heart of the AOP Picpoul de Pinet area. In 1985 its continuing success led to it joining the Coteaux du Languedoc family. On 14 February 2013, the INAO* unanimously ratified AOP Picpoul de Pinet as an appellation its own right following the Syndicate’s launch of official procedures in 1992. This recognition was officially published in the organization’s journal on 23 September 2013. (See interview on page 6). * Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité. A story of wine dating back to the Romans Ever since the 2nd century, viticulture has been at the heart of the AOP Picpoul de Pinet area. Archeological digs at the gallo-roman villa of Présbas, on the shores of the Thau basin, have unveiled six centuries of history. Over thirty years the digs have unveiled numerous stages of its evolution, illustrating the role viticulture played throughout the Roman period. Among the discoveries were presses, a potters’ workshop that produced amphora and a building, which could stock up to 1500 litres of wine. There was even a little port through which the estate’s wine was exported. Golden centuries Later, from the 14th century onwards, a grape variety with a name similar to AOP Picpoul de Pinet featured in Latin texts under the name picapoll. Nor, in 1600, did the wisdom of Languedoc agronomist Oliver de Seres fail when he praised ‘the tight grapes, juicy, late maturing’ in his Agricultural Theatre. In 1618, Piquepoul was named among the Languedoc’s six most well known grape varieties in the “Sylve Plantarium”, a work by the famous Montpellier botanist, Pierre Maniol. The final outcome: recognition of AOP Picpoul de Pinet The Piquepoul grape successfully moved across time. It became increasingly well known in the 19th and 20th centuries, and was awarded the VDQS label in 1954. In 1985, Picpoul de Pinet joined the Coteaux du Languedoc family. In 1992, the Syndicate for the defense of AOP Picpoul de Pinet registered its official request with the Inao (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité) to be recognized as an AOP in its own right. Since then, AOP Picpoul de Pinet wine producers have never ceased promoting their terroir. The result: with the wind in their sails, production has continued to grow. The 1992 figure of 15,000 hl had, by 2012, increased to 70,000 hl. On 14 February 2013, the AOP Picpoul de Pinet officially joined the great AOC family (see interview p 6) – a happy ending for the producers who have been working towards this end for 27 years. « The derivation of the word "Piquepoul" is unclear. Currently, the most likely theory is that it relates to a chicken’s (poules) habit of “picking” at grains on the soil. Piquepoul grapes, in fact, easily fall off the vines so there are often many lying on the ground. » Picpoul de Pinet APPELLATION D’ORIGINE PROTEGEE 4 www.picpoul-de-pinet.com Picpoul de Pinet Key dates 1954 : Picpoul de Pinet achieves status of « Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure. 1985 : Recognized as AOC Languedoc – Picpoul de Pinet. 1992 : Formal request to Inao for recognition as AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) in its own right. 1994 : Launch of a communal Syndicate wine bottle « Neptune », featuring the Languedoc cross. Picpoul was the first Syndicate to undertake such a step. 14 February 2013 : the 47 members of the l’Inao (Institut national des appellations d’origine) national committee voted unanimously for its recognition as AOC Picpoul de Pinet. 23 sept. 2013 : publication of decree 2013-851 relating to AOP Picpoul de Pinet in the Journal Officiel. 2018 : release of the book "Picpoul de Pinet, the white Mediterranean vineyards of the Languedoc" by Marc Médevielle POUL PIC ET N DOC I E GU P LAN N E COLE E VITI D ÉE RIN SS L PER ODY ANUE UNE S EMM APHIE TOGR - PHO IELLE ÉDEV RC M S MA TEXTE Picpoul de Pinet APPELLATION D’ORIGINE PROTEGEE 5 www.picpoul-de-pinet.com Picpoul de Pinet “Every year, our share of the international market increases” Recognized as an AOC since 14th February 2013, the Picpoul de Pinet appellation is riding high and has become very successful at an international level, with 65% of its wines being sold at export. Committed to the agro- environment, the appellation is also investing in the creation of a disease-resistant variety with a view to the future. Frédéric Sumien, president of the Syndicat AOP Picpoul de Pinet, explains. Picpoul de Pinet wines are greatly appreciated by consumers, particularly in the export market. How do you explain this success? F. Sumien – We produce about 80 000 hectoliters per year, which represents between 10 and 12 million bottles. Every year, our international market share increases. We now sell 65% of our production at export, of which 57% to the UK, 11% to the USA and 8% to the Netherlands. We are a rising young appellation, with a very clear message” our terroir is the sea”, a message which interests consumers all over the world. Today, more and more people are discovering Picpoul de Pinet, a fresh wine with aromatic elegance and a lovely acidity. This success is due to the quality of our wines, which is perfectly matched to public taste and to its rarity, since it is produced in such a well- defined area.