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.
Rolle is a white grape variety of Turkish origin that has become established in the South of France, particularly in the Var region, in Corsica under the name of Vermentinu, and in Italy. Its bunches and berries, of medium size, change from white to pink when the grapes are ripe. The rolle likes hot climates where the soil is dry and poor. On the other hand, it fears the wind and diseases. It produces fat, well-balanced white wines. These wines may lack acidity, but they are still very aromatic and give off notes of grapefruit, white fruit, white flowers, fennel, etc. Rolle is also a good table grape that can be enjoyed both fresh and dry. Present in Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon and Corsica. It is used in the composition of numerous appellations such as Ajaccio, Patrimonio, Bandol, Coteaux-d'Aix-en-Provence, Côtes-de-Provence, Costières-de-Nîmes, Corbières, Collioure, Côtes-de-Roussillon, Minervois, Saint Chinian...
white wines from the region of Vin de Pays go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), shellfish or vegetarian such as recipes of mackerel in white wine, parsley knives or broccoli and blue cheese quiche without pastry.
On the nose in the region of Vin de Pays often reveals types of flavors of citrus, citrus fruit or peach and sometimes also flavors of apricot, tree fruit or tropical fruit. In the mouth in the region of Vin de Pays is a powerful with a nice freshness.
