By Simon Taylor, Stroud Wine Company
We get a few unusual requests now and then at The Stroud Wine Company, but last week was the first time a customer has asked us if we had any Piwi wines.
PIWI wines are made from fungus‑resistant grape varieties bred from crossing a European grape variety with an American wild vine, in order to withstand common vineyard diseases. They are pollinated by hand rather than being genetically modified.
The term comes from the German Pilzwiderstandsfähig, meaning “fungus‑resistant.” These varieties allow growers to reduce chemical treatments significantly, making them an important part of sustainable viticulture, especially in cooler or wetter climates where disease pressure is high. They have been around for decades but in recent years are becoming much better known and are clearly now sought after in Stroud!
Examples include white varieties such as Solaris, Bronner and Muscaris, and red varieties like Regent, Cabernet Cortis and Pinotin. However, our most recent additions are made from Souvignier Gris by Domaine Pierre & Antonin.
We first had these on the shelves back in September, but they sold out straight away so we had more for Christmas and they all went too, Now we have the Pet Nat and Orange back in stock, but also their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well.
Pierre & Antonin is a young, natural-focused winery based near Carcassonne, south west France. They champion organic farming, resistant grape varieties to reduce chemical use, and winemaking without added sulphites. Even their packaging is eco-conscious, using local and recycled materials to minimize environmental impact. The glass bottles are the lightest available and the cork is locally grown. These wines are a masterclass in how to make wine as eco-friendly as possible.
Souvignier Gris works really well for skin contact wines and the Petit Sauvage has become our bestselling orange wine: dry, crisp, aromatic with peach, jasmine and bergamot. The Pet Nat is thirst-quenching and naturally effervescent with red apple, pear, apricots and cream. Yum.
Aside from the PIWI varieties they also make a superb and exceedingly silky, red berried Pinot Noir, and a zesty, lemony Chardonnay. Both are under £15. Pop in and try the wines from one of France’s most exciting young winemaking teams.
Click HERE to find out more about The Stroud Wine Company
VISIT OUR WITHEYS YARD SHOP
5 Witheys Yard,
55 High Street,
Stroud,
Gloucestershire
GL5 1AS
VISIT OUR GRIFFIN MILL SHOP
Unit 4,
Griffin Mill,
London Rd.
Stroud,
GL5 2AZ
