I’m in the Languedoc trying to understand what the European Union’s wine reform means for producers here. And I’ve opened a can of worms.
It is incredibly complex – even the producers are confused – many are burying their heads in the sand. I am meeting up with various members of Les Terroiristes du Midi who are pretty savvy but there’s still conflicting messages.
The main issue is that Vin de Pays will no longer exist by the end of 2011. It will be replaced with IGPs (Indication Geographique Protegee). In the biggest Vin de Pays producing region in France this is an issue that I’m investigating for Wine Business International.
So, what are the major changes we are likely to see in the Languedoc as a result of the reform?
It appears many Vin de Pays will disappear, swallowed up by larger IGPs. Producers and syndicat presidents estimate that the 50 or so Vin de Pays areas in the Languedoc will merge into fewer than 10 IGPs. It’s great news for us all that the system will be simpler; but it’s inevitably going to upset producers in those smaller areas who have a sentimental attachment to their wine-growing areas.
Expect to see labels saying IGP Pays d’Oc instead of Vin de Pays d’Oc in the future. Some may even make the change their labels as soon as the 2009 vintage
There’s a three-year transition period for all this to take effect so the consequences of this reform won’t be felt fully until 2012. Until then, there will be a lot of confusion and no doubt plenty of upheaval.
Vin de Pays wines will now be governed by the INAO, which also has responsibility for AOCs/AOPs, bringing the two under the same ruling body for the first time. ANIVIT, the former Vin de Pays governing body will now be responsible for Vin de Table wines only, now known as Vin de France.
Phew that’s enough for now.
In my next blog, I’ll update you on the Vin de Table changes: what that means for France’s competitiveness on the world market and why Vin de Pays producer may not bother with IGP and declassify their wines to the lowest rung of the ladder.
