Meet Pineau d’Aunis: the obscure, peppery Loire Valley grape that once captured the heart of English royalty. Producing pale, light-bodied, energetic red wines bursting with wild raspberry, watermelon, and a signature crack of white pepper, it is the ultimate substantive alternative to rosé. Dive into the fascinating medieval history of this grape—connected to Eleanor of Aquitaine herself—and discover the low-intervention producers spearheading its modern revival.