Vinocap exhibition in Cap d'Agde: for the president of the Picpoul de Pinet appellation Laurent Thieule, “sales are doing quite well”

Laurent Thieule, président de l’AOP Picpoul de Pinet. MIDI LIBRE – RICHARD GOUGIS

The 15th edition of the most important wine tourism fair in the south of France will take place from Thursday May 9 to Saturday May 11, on the quays of the Center-Port du Cap, where more than a hundred exhibitors are expected. . Until then, Midi Libre invites you to meet several of its players. The president of the AOP Picpoul de Pinet since 2021 testifies to the good health of the company. appellation.

In a gloomy context on the wine market, how are Picpoul sales doing ?

Pretty good. White wine is a niche market, one of those that best holds its ground while we are seeing a depreciation of red wines and sales of rosé are declining.

How do you explain that the whites, notably the Picpoul de Pinet of which you preside over the protected designation of origin (AOP), manage to do well? of the game ?

I think that the important thing is to have succeeded in reassuring consumers about the quality of our wines. Which is also to the credit of the winegrowers, but also of all those who vinify their production.

The export market is still the locomotive of Picpoul de Pinet ?

Of the twelve million bottles we produce each year, nearly four million are sold only on the English market! This is more than in France. This is one of the reasons why we communicate a lot on the British market.

Since the start of your mandate, three years ago, we have also noticed a refocusing on the local market.

It's true that we also root communication in our territory. There is Vinocap of course, but also operations that we carry out in the market halls of the region, in Sète and soon Montpellier, Millau, Toulouse and Nîmes, with the Mediterranean oyster union.