Pineau des Charentes
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Pineau des Charentes © Pineau des Charentes

Roadside signs throughout the Charente advertise Pineau des Charentes, a sweet liqueur that's a blending of grape juice stopped in its fermentation by adding Cognac from the same vineyard. It's best drunk chilled as an apéritif; the locals also like it with Oysters and love cooking with it. Favourite dishes include moules au Pineau (mussels cooked with tomatoes, Pineau, garlic and parsley) and lapin à la saintongeaise (rabbit casseroled with Pineau rosé, shallots, garlic, tomatoes, thyme and bay leaves).