Pineau d'Aunis for us is one of the most underrated grapes going. A tricky vine to get much yield from, it nearly went extinct as mass-produced winemakers took over, and eschewed varieties such as this that didn't fit their "wine by numbers" commercial formula for generic grape juice.

But those who persisted, such as our good friends Les Pierres d'Aurèle, we thank you. Pineau d'Aunis has a similar fruit profile to Gamay, but a bit darker and deeper, and always with this distinct peppery and stalky element, adding more texture and complexity. An absolute must for any adventurous wine drinker out there.

The domaine of Les Pierres d'Aurèle built a strong reputation in the 19th century and has been completely modernised and refreshed since 2010. The winemakers have adopted environmentally friendly practices, strongly believing that focused on the quality of the wines they produce stems from healthy vines.