Bordeaux gets its own vin de pays- de L'Atlantique

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Dawn Cran
Vins de Pays wines will be allowed in Bordeaux for the first time, following the recent introduction of a new appellation for the departments of Dordogne, Gironde, Charente, Charente Maritime and the north of the Lot-et-Garonne.

Vins de Pays de l'Atlantique will bring together producers from each of these regions and allow them far more freedom with grape varieties and labelling techniques than permitted under AOC regulations. Other vin de pays appellations already exist in this area - such as Vins de Pays du Prigord and Vins de Pays Charentais - but this is an entirely new opportunity for Gironde (Bordeaux wines).

The Conseil Regional des Vins d'Aquitaine (CRVA) is responsible for co-ordinating this development on behalf of the Bassin de Production Bordeaux Aquitaine, and Pierre Cambar, director of the CRVA, told Harpers: The decision to create this appellation was made at the end of 2004 and it has now come into force under two years later.

We hope that the Vins de Pays de l'Atlantique will complement the AOC wines and provide a new easy-drinking and fruity product, which will help provide a solution to the wine crisis.

It is also a chance for the Bordeaux merchants to create brands for international markets and to label the wines with the international grape varieties.'

Cambar anticipates that the production volumes will be limited for the first year and the first wines released under the new appellation will amount to approximately 25,000 to 30,000 hectolitres.

Printer friendly version