When choosing a wine, one is tempted to look for a IGP or AOC wine. These labels are often associated with quality wines. But do you really know the differences between IGP and AOC?
WHAT DOES IGP MEAN?
A Protected Geographical Indication (IGP), as its name suggests, refers to the characteristics of a wine that are directly linked to the geographical area of its production and processing. This label concerns many food products, such as meat, fruit or vegetables. As far as wine is concerned, there are 75 wine IGPs in France.
A wine with a protected geographical indication must meet strict specifications, even if they are lighter than those of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC). Winegrowers are free to choose the grape varieties and growing techniques, but they must, among other things, pay attention to the alcohol content, or the maximum yield per hectare.
IGP wines are therefore particularly popular, as many producers specialise in varietal wines. These wines, produced from a single grape variety, offer very particular aromas.
WHAT DOES AOC MEAN?
The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) has existed since the 1930s, and was created to regulate viticulture to some extent. A wine bearing the AOC label designates a product that has met very strict specifications. The production of the wine must then respect different stages of production and winemaking techniques, carried out according to a recognised know-how. The wine must also come from a specific geographical area, which gives it all its particularities.
Obtaining the AOC label is much more complex than the IGP, as the specifications are strict. The criteria range from maximum yields, to production areas, to grape varieties and winemaking techniques.
The objective of the AOC is to honour the terroir (soil, climate) and tradition. It ensures an original wine, which is not reproducible, and which ddrys all its qualities from its place of harvest.
IGP AND AOC: WHAT SHOULD WE REMEMBER?
The IGP, introduced in 1992 for food products, and in 2009 for local wines, has more flexible specifications than the AOC. However, this does not mean that a IGP wine is less good than an AOC wine. The appellation will never guarantee the taste and quality of a wine, and it is the grape variety, the winemaking techniques and the terroir that will determine the quality of a wine, whether it is IGP or AOC. To know which wine appeals to you most, the label will be a guarantee of quality, but nothing beats a tasting to make up your own mind.
Would you like to discover a labelled rosé wine, guaranteeing a local product? The Domaine de Berne invites you to tasteEsprit Méditerranée, a rosé wine IGP which will take you to the heart of Provence.
