Pays d'Oc is the PGI for red, white and rosé wines that are produced over a wide area of the southern coast of France. The PGI catchment area corresponds roughly to the Languedoc-roussillon">Languedoc-Roussillon wine region, one of the largest wine regions in France. The area covers all wines that are not produced under the strict laws that govern AOC-level appellations in the regions: among them, Corbières, Minervois and the Languedoc appellation itself. The Pays d'Oc PGI is arguably the most important in France, producing the majority of the country's PGI wines.
Five separate departments fall under the PGI (Hérault, Aude, Gard, Pyrénées-Orientales and six communes in southern Lozère), which is delimited by administrative rather than geographical boundaries. The name therefore covers a wide variety of terrain, from the mountain ranges of the southern Massif Central to the coastal plains of the Camargue crossed by rivers. Vineyards jostle for position in the Garrigue landscape. The Pays d'Oc has a MediterraneanClimate with hot, Dry summers and mild winters.
Pinot Gris is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot gris was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. Pinot Gris is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot Gris wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot gris is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.
pink wines from the region of Pays d'Oc go well with generally quite well with dishes of pasta, vegetarian or appetizers and snacks such as recipes of mascarpone/gorgonzola macaroni gratin, magic cake cheese quiche or melon and cucumber gazpacho.
On the nose in the region of Pays d'Oc often reveals types of flavors of strawberries, red fruit or melon and sometimes also flavors of tree fruit, citrus fruit or floral. In the mouth in the region of Pays d'Oc is a with a nice freshness.
