The climate here is obviously Mediterranean, with long, hot summers and relatively mild winters helping to bring the Picpoul grapes to full phenolic ripeness. There is also a strong marine influence, due to the area’s coastal proximity to the Bassin de Thau and the Mediterranean beyond it. This coastal area around Montpellier is famous for its resident flamingos and is one of the birds’ most northerly habitats. While many migrate south for winter, some remain here all year round, which demonstrates how mild the weather is in the cooler months.

Although it is a relatively small area, Picpoul de Pinet’s landscape is measurably varied from north to south. In the north, the terrain alternates between garrigue (the archetypal Provencal landscape of herb-strewn scrubland on limestone soils) and jagged outcrops of ancient rock. Due to the precise local topography, the maritime influences are much less pronounced than in the vineyards slightly closer to the coast.

In the south, the landscape is more homogenous, less jagged and more rolling, and opens up directly to the sea. This area is almost exclusively planted with vines, and benefits from the maritime influences of cooling morning and evening breezes. The soils are mostly alluvial, with a high proportion of free-draining sandy types.

Winemaking