As you read a wine label, you see the mention of an IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée, or Protected Geographical Indication). You then wonder “what is an IGP?”. An IGP wine is a wine produced in France, following a precise set of guidelines, and granted a favourable opinion by the INAO after applying for it. Originally, this designation was more often reserved for food products. It has only been used for wine since 2009.
IGP wine production areas in France
The definition of an IGP wine includes its production area. To qualify for an IGP, a wine must necessarily be produced in certain specific places. Broadly, six production areas concentrate the majority of wines holding an IGP in France.
First, nearly 75% of wine production in the Pays d’Oc holds a protected geographical indication. The south-east of France is no exception, with nearly ten départements covered by an IGP around the Mediterranean. There are also IGPs in the Comté Rhodanien and the Comté Tolosan. Finally, the Atlantic and the Val de Loire are known for their IGPs.
It’s also worth noting that each of these IGPs includes more restricted IGPs that truly correspond to the production basin.
IGP wine guidelines
An IGP is granted following a precise procedure. On the website of the INAO (the French national institute of origin and quality), you can find a guide for IGP applicants. Generally, for a wine producer to qualify for an IGP, they must follow a fairly precise set of guidelines. A check on the wines’ quality is also planned.
It’s worth noting, though, that the guidelines for an IGP are much less demanding than those for an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée). There’s no plot-by-plot delimitation under IGP, and the list of authorised grape varieties sometimes includes varieties foreign to the production region. These are particularly useful points to bear in mind when choosing your wine. You can also use them when tasting a wine. There are today more than 150 wines that hold an IGP.
Vin de pays: the predecessor of IGP wine
IGP wine dates from 2009. Before it, there were the vins de pays. The vin de pays was created in 1968. The aim was to highlight the work of winemakers who held no designation of origin. In 2009, the IGP replaced the vin de pays. Each of the wines that held this designation was then subject to a precise set of guidelines. So, between 2009 and 2011, winemakers could bring themselves into compliance with the guidelines to have an IGP wine.
