Piquette. A word I’d never heard or seen before until recently on Instagram. I kept seeing one of my fellow winos drinking the canned version on my feed. Was this some type of new natural type of wine? I wasn’t quite sure, but the more I saw these cans, the more I wanted to try it.
So, what exactly is Piquette?
Despite my initial thoughts, piquette really isn’t real wine if you want to get technical. Some may say that it, but the fact of the matter is the production process involves fermenting a mixture of water and grape pomace—the leftover remains of pressed grapes, like skin and stems—instead of the fermented juice. Because piquette involves the reuse of a byproduct that would normally be thrown out, winemakers often work with whatever grapes they have on hand from their traditional wines. Different varieties yield different results.This method actually started centuries ago and was said to be enjoyed as a treat by French and Italian vineyard workers and farmers.
What does this stuff taste like?
Piquettes can be a bit tart and lightly funky and have a little fizz. Think sour beer or kombucha if I had to describe it. The average alcohol content for piquette tends to be 4-9 percent ABV (alcohol by volume) while the average wine contains about 12-15 percent. If you’re looking for a drink with a low ABV, piquette is definitely a great alternative.
Review: Southold Farm + Cellar ‘Piquette’ 16oz Can ($16)
I saw that Montrose Cheese & Wine (in Houston) was carrying the four pack of the Southold Farm + Cellar Piquette (Sparkling Rosé) cans. Southold Farm + Cellar is a winery and vineyard that started on the North Fork of Long Island, but relocated to the Texas Hill Country a couple years ago. This piquette was made from various grape skins throughout the 2018 vintage. With that being said, it was very much an acquired taste. It didn’t taste like Rosé at all to me, but was more reminiscent of a watered down beer. Very tart…I was hoping that the flavors would magically come to life, but it stayed pretty flat. I’m not going to lie I was a bit bummed because I was really hoping to like piquette, but this one didn’t do it for me.
If you’re a beer or kombucha drinker, this may be more your speed. I’m neither, but I’m not going to let that stop me from trying others. I still feel like there’s more to learn about this style of beverage and I can’t wait to try other brands. Aside from Southold Farm + Cellar, other piquette producers leading the way include Wild Arc Farm and Old Westminster Winery. Stay tuned…I’m sure you’ll see more piquette on the blog. Have you tried it before? Thoughts? Let me know in the comment section. Until next time….glasses up!
