Peas have arrived! Forget about those frozen peas you have the rest of the year, and enjoy super fresh peas grown right here in little Rhody. This is the newest edition of our series of seasonal food and wine pairings. Today, we’re pairing peas and Picpoul de Pinet, a wonderful French white wine.
In Season Now: Peas
June – September
There’s nothing quite like freshly picked peas! Snack on them fresh, cook them as a vegetable side, or make a soup, purée or pesto with this light & lovely veggie. Pick your own peas at Rhode Island farms from summer to early fall, or visit your local farmer’s market if there’s no time for pea picking in your schedule. English peas, sugar snap peas and snow peas are some common varieties. Sweet, tender, and a characteristic green color, peas are best enjoyed young and right after they’ve been picked.
- Our friends at Edible Rhody Magazine have a great recipe for English Pea Pesto.
- Learn how to make Lemon Scented Pea Risotto on this previous blog post.
Wine Pairing
Picpoul de Pinet is a French white wine. Picpoul is the grape varietal, Pinet is a town near the Mediterranean Sea in France. Light and fresh, summery and lemony, Picpoul and peas are a great summer food and wine pairing. A staff favorite here at Bottles, St. Peyre’s Picpoul de Pinet is medium-bodied with flavors of melon, grapefruit, and lemon.
- In a region well-known for great red wines, Picpoul de Pinet is a curious, and delicious, exception to this association.
- Pinet is actually a small fishing village, with vineyards extending all the way down to the sea shore.
- Impress your friends with this relatively unknown but fantastic white wine!