It is said that a farmer in Saintonge poured, by mistake, some grape juice into a cask containing eau-de-vie. It stayed forgotten in his cellar for several years when he had the agreeable surprise of finding an amber liquid, with a delicate aroma and a smooth flavour. It is from “mistelle”* that Pineau des Charentes was born. 

* Mistelle is a grape must, of which the fermentation has been stopped by addition of alcohol.