Vin de Pays (VDP), the French national equivalent of PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) at the European level, is a quality category of French wines, positioned between Vin de Table (VDT) and Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC). This layer of the French appellation system was initially introduced in September 1968 by the INAO, the official appellation authority. It underwent several early revisions in the 1970s, followed by substantial changes in September 2000 and again in 2009, when all existing VDT titles were automatically registered with the European Union as PGI. Producers retain the choice of using either the VDP or PGI titles on their labels, or both - in the form "IGP-Vin de Pays".
There are now more than 150 VDP/IGP titles, mainly covering the southern third of France. The "Vin de Pays" level is intended to benefit both consumers and wine producers. It allows consumers to know clearly where a wine comes from, while producers are empowered to produce wine outside the constraints of traditional AOC laws. The most obvious freedoms are the higher yields allowed and a more comprehensive list of permitted Grape varieties.
It is the only vinifera-riparia that has been commercialized. It is the result of crossing the folle blanche with the riparia grand glabre created in 1902 by François Baco. Depending on the region, we can still find some small plots of black Baco vines often mixed with other varieties. You will also find trellises or arbors installed a long time ago in front of old houses and still maintained in a more than remarkable way thanks to the great vigour of this variety. It should be noted that there is also a white baco resulting from the crossing of the folle blanche by the noah and resembling much the latter.
white wines from the region of Vin de Pays go well with generally quite well with dishes of pasta, vegetarian or poultry such as recipes of one pot pasta with creamy chicken farfalle, spinach and goat cheese quiche or quiche with leeks and fresh salmon from flo.
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