Flavours of Thiérache

If you’re looking for a change from traditional cava or Aperol, consider Espinette de Thiérache, an aperitif made from wine and thorns. It’s pleasant on the palate and then, with guests, you can add a touch of nature and local culture at the start of your meal. That creates its special charm.

An all-natural drink that you have to taste

Michel Durlet is the man behind this drink. You meet him when you visit the workshop. He is incredibly passionate. You’ll learn that he harvests thorns in June. Not just any thorns, though: black thorns from the Calestienne region, near Chimay.

Michel macerates the plant with Aude wine, a wine from the Oc region, and bottles this beverage. He doesn’t add anything else: no sugar, no preservatives, no colourings.

A tasting (but not too much)

Let yourself be tempted by a short tasting. You can sense the slightly bitter taste left by the thorns. In addition to this characteristic flavour, this producer likes to season his wines with different local products.

As a result, he has developed different aperitifs:

• rosé, with a slight hint of morello cherry and lychee;

• red, with blackcurrant and forest fruits;

• white, with bitter almonds and other fruits, such as apricots and pineapples;

• clear, with the aroma of rose and elderflower.

You can speak with Michel to learn what to have with these drinks. You can drink them as an aperitif, or pair them with hot or cold dishes.

For a sparkling version, add ⅓ Espinette and ⅔ champagne.

A drink from a region, with a unique flavour to match

The flavours in Thiérache highlight a very unique terroir in the Grande Thiérache region. This region stretches from the north of France to the Botte du Hainaut region. It is characterised by large grassy areas, some valleys and woodland.

Within this region, you can really appreciate the rural landscapes full of hedges and the small villages built with local stone.

When you’re not in the mood for a drink, this beverage can be used in your dishes?

What’ll it be – red, white, rosé or clear?