Windowrie Estate in Cowra, Central Ranges. Cowra Wine Region
Picpoul could be the latest ‘alternative’ grape variety to excite the trend-setters in our corner of the wine world.
Picpoul, according to the small group of those who produce it in NSW, is the fastest growing variety in the UK market. That would be French picpoul of course, not Australian: picpoul is grown in several southern French regions but the most famous is Picpoul de Pinet, which is an appellation dry white from the Languedoc. It’s grown right down south, within sight of the Mediterranean, and is regarded locally as THE wine to have with the local oysters, grown in the lagoon known as the Ètang de Thau. It’s an inexpensive, everyday kind of wine.
The grapes for all five wines were grown on the same vineyard, the O’Dea family’s Windowrie vineyard at Canowindra.
Five NSW producers of picpoul (which can also be spelt piquepoul) staged a promotional event in Sydney recently, pairing their picpouls with seafoods and cheeses at Longshore restaurant in Chippendale. These people, who dub themselves the Picpoulers of NSW, are Borrowed Cuttings, Horner Wines, Mercer Wines, Saddler’s Creek Wines and Windowrie (whose brand is Pig In The House).
The grapes for all five wines were grown on the same vineyard, the O’Dea family’s Windowrie vineyard at Canowindra. This is where oyster grower Steve Feletti chose to plant the original vine stock, which he imported from France (see my earlier story on Feletti). Feletti’s superb Moonlight Flat oysters
This Article was originally published on The Real Review
