Notes from the Pineau Academy:

"Pineau des Charentes is a fortified wine made of fresh grape juice blended with Cognac. Produced exclusively in France’s Cognac region, this spirited wine redefines wine experience with its unique aromatic palette and versatility. Whether in a cocktail, as food pairing or as a digestive, there is a Pineau des Charentes for every taste bud and occasion.

Legend has it that Pineau des Charentes is the result of a happy accident. In the late 16th century, a wine-grower carelessly threw grape must into a barrel containing Cognac eau-de-vie. Years later, the barrel was discovered and with it a unique drink: a limpid wine with golden hints. Pineau des Charentes was born.

Pineau des Charentes flourished thanks to a unique and ancestral expertise, with wine producers making wine as early as the 3rd century, in what is today the regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime. Home to the town of Cognac, the Charentes region was driven by the rise of its signature spirit. Pineau des Charentes shares much of its history with Cognac, drawing on the same traditional skills and expertise while remaining much more confidential than its counterpart. Made behind closed doors in small estates for more than 4 centuries, Pineau des Charentes embodies French craftiness and long-standing savoir-faire of cellar masters.

Legend has it that Pineau des Charentes is the result of a happy accident. In the late 16th century, a wine-grower carelessly threw grape must into a barrel containing Cognac eau-de-vie. Years later, the barrel was discovered and with it a unique drink: a limpid wine with golden hints. Pineau des Charentes was born.

Pineau des Charentes flourished thanks to a unique and ancestral expertise, with wine producers making wine as early as the 3rd century, in what is today the regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime. Home to the town of Cognac, the Charentes region was driven by the rise of its signature spirit. Pineau des Charentes shares much of its history with Cognac, drawing on the same traditional skills and expertise while remaining much more confidential than its counterpart. Made behind closed doors in small estates for more than 4 centuries, Pineau des Charentes embodies French craftiness and long-standing savoir-faire of cellar masters.

For the longest time, Pineau des Charentes was the most closely guarded secret of the region, and was mostly reserved for weddings and family events. The industry began to organize itself in 1920, and obtained the Appellation d’Origine status in 1935. On October 12th 1945, Pineau des Charentes went one step further by being named an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée wine – a label that guarantees its origin and quality. It has since been exported across the world."