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Unfortunately there is no information about Pays d'Oc IGP available.
Pays d'Oc IGP

Description to Pays d'Oc IGP

The largest of the seven regional areas for the production of IGP wines (formerly Landwein) in France. The other six are Atlantique, Comtés Rhodaniens, Comté Tolosan, Méditerranée, Terres du Midi and Val de Loire. It lies deep in the south of the country on the Mediterranean and encompasses the dual region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the four départements of Aude, Gard, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales. The Greeks and later the Romans brought viticulture to the area in ancient times. Several wine routes also run through the vast area, including Via Domitia (the first Roman road in Gaul), the Canal du Midi (connecting Toulouse with the Mediterranean at Sète) and the section of the Way of St James that runs through the area. The designation "Vin de Pays d'Oc" was created at in 1987 and changed to "Pays d'Oc IGP" by the EU wine market regulation that came into force in 2009 (see also under quality system).

Pays d´Oc - Gebäude

Soil and climate

The zone offers ideal and homogeneous conditions. There is plenty of sunshine with the four prevailing winds Autan, Marin, Mistral and Tramontane. With 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline and land rising like an amphitheatre to the west, Languedoc-Roussillon has a variety of different landscapes. There are three main zones: the coastal plain, the first hills and the stony hills and the high vineyards. The area that opens out towards the Mediterranean extends from Nîmes via the Camargue and the Côte Vermeille to the Spanish border in the form of an arc along the 200 kilometre-long coastline of the Gulf of Lion. It is bordered to the west by the Pyrenees and to the east by the foothills of the Cévennes. This expanse explains the extraordinary variety of soil types, which alternate between sandy soils on the coast and limestone, slate, clay or stony gravel on the plains and in the hills. The character of the varietal wines results from the sunny, Mediterranean climate.

Pays d´Oc - Weinberg am Meer

Environmental protection and sustainability

Environmental protection plays a major role. In 2009, the VIP (Vineyard In Progress) programme for sustainable development and social responsibility was launched as part of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) movement. Inter Oc (professional organisation for Pays d'Oc IGP wines) initiated the adaptation of the ISO 26000 standard (sustainability management) to the wine sector under the auspices of AFNOR. This concerns environmental and social commitment measures (sustainable management, control of resources and reduction of packaging materials), integrating the expectations of all stakeholders, as well as improvements in the workplace, combating inequalities, strengthening training and valorising the region. The entire sector is strongly committed to the environment and society.

Pays d´Oc - Labels

Vineyards, grape varieties and wines

The vineyards cover around 120,000 hectares of vineyards, which corresponds to around half of the dual region. A total of 58 grape varieties are authorised, with the main contributors to quality and character being the leading varieties, most of which are vinified as single varietals. In 2019, five PIWI varieties were authorised as secondary innovation grape varieties. However, these are limited to a maximum of 15% and may not be named on the label. Producers are free to decide on the grape variety mix and thus give their wines an individual flavour and characteristic of the region in question. Nine out of ten Pays d'Oc IGP wines are single-varietal wines. They must contain at least 85% of the specified grape variety and may contain up to 15% of other varieties. The second variety must account for more than 15% if it is to be named.

93% of wines are marketed with the grape variety stated on the label. Red wines account for 45%, rosé wines for 30% and white wines for 25%. The classic varieties Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are mainly used for the red wines. The light, fruity rosé wines can be vinified from 27 varieties; the leading varieties are Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Cinsault (Cinsaut) and Syrah. The leading varieties for white wines are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

All production rules are monitored. Like the AOP wines, IGP wines must also undergo administrative and tasting controls, for example with regard to grape varieties, yields and analytical characteristics. But Pays d'Oc IGP goes even further in its controls, as 100% of the certified wines are tasted, guaranteeing quality. In addition, an external inspection is carried out for Pays d'Oc IGP by Bureau Veritas Certification. A seal guarantees that the wine comes from the Pays d'Oc (see picture above left).

Production volumes

In 2021, the wine production volume was 6.8 million hectolitres, or 910 million bottles. Of these, 10% are organic wines with 90 million bottles. The wines are marketed on all continents in a total of 170 countries, with one in four bottles exported to Germany. Worldwide, 25 bottles of Pays d'Doc IGP are sold every second. Pays d'Oc IGP is the No. 1 in France for high-quality, single-varietal wines and for the export of wines with IGP origins.

There are 930 independent wineries and 150 winegrowers' cooperatives (Caves Coopératives), which together represent 12,930 families (2022). Well-known producers include Domaine les Yeuses, Domaine Gérard Bertrand and Les Vignobles Foncalieu.

Source and images: Pays d'Oc IGP Information Office

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