If You Like Pinot Grigio, Try Picpoul
Why Progressive Farmers and Winemakers
Are Doubling Down on Diversity
By Melanie Young | May 2023
Though Chardonnay has long been one of America’s favorite white wines, consumers are clearly interested in exploring other varieties and expanding their white wine palates. Sales of Sauvignon Blanc have recently surged—so much so that California vineyards can’t keep up. And though Pinot Grigio has been an American go-to for the last 20 years, fans of crisp white wines may want something new to sip on this season.
Enter Picpoul. Though it may strike some as an obscure white grape, it certainly has its in-the-know wine fans. If you’ve never tried it and tend to gravitate toward high-acid whites, like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, it’s time to give this wine a moment in the spotlight.
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2021 Turning Tide Picpoul
93 Points
At first, this affordable bottling from a warmer corner of the region is quite austere, with aromas of glacial wash and tight citrus blossom. It then opens a touch more toward yuzu peel and crisp pear. The palate is cut by citrus peel and a stony, oyster-shell minerality. Broader white-melon flavor consumes the midpalate. Editor’s Choice —Matt Kettmann