We’re always partial to a bottle with a good story behind it, and the Sea Change Picpoul de Pinet we were recently sent to try ticks more than a few boxes.
As regular readers will know, we’re a little bit partial to good packaging. A beautifully designed label has been known to influence our wine choices more than once, and the Sea Change Picpoul de Pinet we were recently sent to try certainly caught our eye for exactly that reason.
The first thing you notice is the label. Bold, colourful and beautifully illustrated, each bottle features marine life woven into the design, a subtle nod to the brand’s mission to help protect the oceans. It’s the sort of bottle you’d happily bring to a dinner party or place on the table without even realising you’ve accidentally matched the wine to the table styling.
But Sea Change isn’t just about good looks. The brand was created with a clear environmental purpose: every bottle sold contributes to marine conservation projects, supporting charities working to protect ocean habitats and wildlife. It’s a small but meaningful reminder that the things we buy (even something as simple or essential as a bottle of wine, can have a wider impact.
Packaging aside (although we do still love it), the real question is of course what’s inside the bottle.
Tasting the Picpoul
Sea Change’s Picpoul de Pinet comes from southern France, close to the Mediterranean coast, a region well known for producing fresh, bright white wines that feel tailor-made for seafood and long, relaxed evenings.
In the glass, it’s exactly what you hope a Picpoul will be: crisp, lively and refreshing. There’s plenty of citrus, we’d say lemon and grapefruit, alongside a slightly salty note that gives it that classic coastal character (although that could just be that we were talking about it being the perfect post-beach sundowner). The acidity is sharp enough to keep things interesting without tipping into anything too austere.
It’s the sort of wine that feels very easy to drink (perhaps dangerously so) and works beautifully with simple food. Think grilled fish, seafood pasta or even just a bowl of olives and a bit of sunshine if you’re lucky enough to have it.
We tried it on a fairly ordinary midweek evening (well, the two days at the beginning of March where the sun shone and we all got a bit giddy!) and it instantly made things feel a little more summery, which is always a good sign.
Wine That Gives Back
Another thing we liked about Sea Change is that the environmental thinking runs beyond the label. The brand has taken steps to reduce unnecessary packaging, removing plastic from the bottling process and using more sustainable materials wherever possible.
Of course, the idea of wine supporting ocean conservation might sound like a small gesture, but it’s exactly the kind of simple initiative that makes a difference when lots of people take part.
And if that also happens to come in a very well-designed bottle and taste rather good too, we’re certainly not complaining.
Sea Change wines are available via seachangewine.com and selected retailers.
