IGP stands for Indication Géographique Protégée, the French term for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). It is a European Union designation that identifies a wine with a defined geographical area and establishes rules for origin and production. In France, IGP replaced the former Vin de Pays category.
An IGP wine must meet the specification for its named area, including requirements for grape origin, permitted varieties, production and labelling. The rules are generally more flexible than those of an AOP, allowing a wider range of varieties and styles. For many EU wine PGIs, at least 85% of the grapes must come from the named geographical area, subject to the applicable rules.
IGP Pays d’Oc is a well-known designation from southern France, especially Languedoc-Roussillon. It is widely used for varietal wines made from grapes such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. The designation covers a broad area and a wide range of styles and price points.
Example: an IGP Pays d’Oc Chardonnay may identify the grape variety on the label and offer a different style from a more tightly regulated village or regional AOP wine.
IGP provides a protected regional origin with relatively flexible production rules. AOP generally has more specific geographical and production requirements. Vin de France identifies national origin without a smaller protected geographical designation.
Chef’s tip: IGP wines can be useful for flexible by-the-glass and food-service programs. Choose based on the individual wine’s grape, acidity, body and flavour rather than assuming all wines from one IGP taste alike.
This term is one of hundreds covered in depth across OCS courses, learning paths, and 1-on-1 coaching with Chef Eric.
