Fun Facts About Picpoul Grapes

Growing Picpoul Grapes at Camledge Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country

At Camledge Vineyard Picpoul Blanc grapes are the one white grape variety that we grow. Picpoul is nicknamed “Lip-Stinger” for its crisp acidity and refreshing finish. This heavily producing vine originated in the Languedoc region of Southern France near the Meditterranean. This region of France has hot summers, mild winters, plentiful sunshine, little rainfall, and limestone soil very similar to the Texas Hill County.

Picpoul grapes originated from the Languedo region of Southern France.

Growing grapes in the Texas Hill Country can be challenging. One of the biggest challenges is the extreme heat and lack of rain. This creates a shorter growing season than in regions like California. Many times the grapes have to be harvested early because of the prolonged heat. Picpoul does well in Texas because it thrives in warm climates with lots of sunshine.

Picpoul grapes make a delicious sparkling wine. Grapes used for sparkling wines can be harvested slightly earlier, which is another reason Picpoul is well suited for Texas vineyards.

Picpoul grape cluster at Camledge Vineyard

The Picpoul vines at Camledge Vineyard are heavy producers. We love that but Picpoul grapes can be a challenge to harvest. The clusters tend to entangle themselves around wires and the vines. Untangling them is time consuming so we have learned that we need a few extra helping hands on Picpoul harvest day.

Check out our post on Picpoul Blanc Food Pairings.

Until next time,

Cheers from Camledge Vineyard