Vin de France wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

Vin de Table

Vin de France is the designation that replaced the former table wine category in 2010. It applies to the whole of French territory and corresponds to no defined production zone or terroir: grapes may come from any wine region in the country and be blended together without geographical restriction. Unlike wines carrying a protected geographical indication or a controlled designation of origin, Vin de France is not tied to any particular soil or climate. Every grape variety listed in the official catalogue of wine grape varieties authorized for wine production in France may be used. This freedom of zone and grape variety sets Vin de France apart from Protected Geographical Indication and Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wines, and allows producers to state the grape variety and vintage on the label, information that the former table wine regulations did not permit.

The wines of this appellation

Vin de France is produced in red, white and rosé, as well as orange wine, the latter being a white wine vinified as if it were a red. Because the grapes and varieties can come from every French wine region and be blended freely, styles vary widely from one wine to another: single-variety wines built around one grape such as Chardonnay or Merlot, or blends combining several varieties and origins. The grape variety and vintage often appear on the label, allowing the wine's profile to be identified before tasting. This diversity of colors and compositions supports a wide range of pairings, from aperitifs to casual meals: cured meats and slow-cooked dishes for the reds, fish and poultry for the whites, summer cooking and grilled dishes for the rosés.