Comments on: Pineau des Charentes: an overlooked cocktail ingredient? http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/ Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:46:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Gehringer http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-62943 Michael Gehringer Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:31:29 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-62943 Good to see this underappreciated aperitif get some good press. I first discovered Pineau when the sommelier at a French restaurant in Charlottesville, VA suggested pairing it with fois gras instead of a Sauternes. It was wonderful! Sad it's so difficult to find good versions of this--or any versions, for that matter--in the States. J Vineyards in the Russian River Valley in CA makes a good, similar wine that they call Ratafia--same concept (adding brandy to grape must,)but this version uses pinot noir juice as its base, so that it is more similar to the wines made in the Champagne region. It's worth trying. Pollak Vineyards in Virginia also makes a wine, Mille Fleurs, that is as close to a good Pineau as I've had from a US producer--they blend brandy with late harvest Viognier. Unfortunately, they describe this as being produced "in the style of a port." While this is certainly correct, their wine bears much more resemblance to a Pineau than to a white port--but I suppose too few people know of Pineau to make it a useful promotional comparison! Good to see this underappreciated aperitif get some good press. I first discovered Pineau when the sommelier at a French restaurant in Charlottesville, VA suggested pairing it with fois gras instead of a Sauternes. It was wonderful! Sad it’s so difficult to find good versions of this–or any versions, for that matter–in the States. J Vineyards in the Russian River Valley in CA makes a good, similar wine that they call Ratafia–same concept (adding brandy to grape must,)but this version uses pinot noir juice as its base, so that it is more similar to the wines made in the Champagne region. It’s worth trying. Pollak Vineyards in Virginia also makes a wine, Mille Fleurs, that is as close to a good Pineau as I’ve had from a US producer–they blend brandy with late harvest Viognier. Unfortunately, they describe this as being produced “in the style of a port.” While this is certainly correct, their wine bears much more resemblance to a Pineau than to a white port–but I suppose too few people know of Pineau to make it a useful promotional comparison!

]]> By: Mark Bitterman http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-57690 Mark Bitterman Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:26:56 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-57690 Great article! I'm a Pineau freak as well, and have spent more years than I can remember visiting and drinking with small Pineau makers. We actually sell a few varieties in our shop, The Meadow, but we, too, have had a heck of a time finding quality vintage pineau here in the U.S. Perhaps it's time we imported some ourselves. Your cocktails and descriptions are wonderful. I'm doing the Pompadour tonight for a cocktail class! Great article! I’m a Pineau freak as well, and have spent more years than I can remember visiting and drinking with small Pineau makers. We actually sell a few varieties in our shop, The Meadow, but we, too, have had a heck of a time finding quality vintage pineau here in the U.S. Perhaps it’s time we imported some ourselves. Your cocktails and descriptions are wonderful. I’m doing the Pompadour tonight for a cocktail class!

]]> By: William Widmaier http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-25732 William Widmaier Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:22:36 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-25732 I first tried Pineau when traveling through the Charent region in the early 90s. We toured what we thought was a small family winery, but turned out to be a Pineau maker. We fell in love with the stuff, bought a case and brought it home. While on occasion you can find it in the states, it is rarely as good as the "good stuff" you find in France, especially the 15 and 20 year old bottles - liquid gold! I first tried Pineau when traveling through the Charent region in the early 90s. We toured what we thought was a small family winery, but turned out to be a Pineau maker. We fell in love with the stuff, bought a case and brought it home. While on occasion you can find it in the states, it is rarely as good as the “good stuff” you find in France, especially the 15 and 20 year old bottles – liquid gold!

]]> By: Miriam Hamsa http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-19493 Miriam Hamsa Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:10:14 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-19493 Yummy yummy pineau des charentes - was served to me as the "house" wine when i was visiting in the Dordogne region of southern France. It is a popular drink there - but somehow, when I buy it in the US, it doesn't taste the same - even the bottle I brought home with me. Must be terroir! Yummy yummy pineau des charentes – was served to me as the “house” wine when i was visiting in the Dordogne region of southern France. It is a popular drink there – but somehow, when I buy it in the US, it doesn’t taste the same – even the bottle I brought home with me. Must be terroir!

]]> By: Robyn Barnes http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-15087 Robyn Barnes Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:49:52 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-15087 I found your article on the Pinaeu to be very informative and enlightening. I too discovered the Pinaeu by accident....at a Cigar Bar in Arizona, of all places, and in fact, became the person instrumental in the owner of the Cigar Bar's becoming the top distributor of the wine in the whole state of Arizona! From the first sip, I've become so enamored of this wine, that it's what I drink almost exclusively at home. Unfortunately, it can't be found in very many restaurants, so I have to settle for something else when I dine out. I will have to try some of your recipes you have generously shared with others. They look to be very tasty. Thank you for printing them. Sincerely, Robyn Barnes I found your article on the Pinaeu to be very informative and enlightening. I too discovered the Pinaeu by accident….at a Cigar Bar in Arizona, of all places, and in fact, became the person instrumental in the owner of the Cigar Bar’s becoming the top distributor of the wine in the whole state of Arizona!

From the first sip, I’ve become so enamored of this wine, that it’s what I drink almost exclusively at home. Unfortunately, it can’t be found in very many restaurants, so I have to settle for something else when I dine out.

I will have to try some of your recipes you have generously shared with others. They look to be very tasty. Thank you for printing them.

Sincerely,

Robyn Barnes

]]> By: rvr http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-14702 rvr Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:30:31 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-14702 what do you think of a splash of pineau in a vodka martini? what do you think of a splash of
pineau in a vodka martini?

]]> By: Mrs Gargle http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/comment-page-1/#comment-3431 Mrs Gargle Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:47:51 +0000 http://talesblog.com/2008/05/14/pineau-des-charentes-an-overlooked-cocktail-ingredient/#comment-3431 I tried the Ambassade with red Pineau and it was awful! When I poured the cocktails, my husband asked if it was linctus. When we drank it, we both agreed it was!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps it was better with white Pineau. I tried the Ambassade with red Pineau and it was awful! When I poured the cocktails, my husband asked if it was linctus. When we drank it, we both agreed it was!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps it was better with white Pineau.

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