VDQS
Encyclopedia
Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure ("Delimited Wine of Superior Quality"), usually abbreviated as VDQS, is the second highest category of French wine
, below Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC) in rank, but above Vin de pays
(country wine). VDQS is sometimes written as AOVDQS, with AO standing for Appellation d'Origine. VDQS wines are subject to restrictions on yield and vine variety, among others.
There are relatively few VDQS, as they typically move onto AOC status after a number of years, so VDQS represents a small part of the total French wine production. In 2005, VDQS wines made up 0.9% of the total wine production, which meant 409,472 hectoliter. 42.3% of the VDQS wines produced in that year were white, with 57.7% being either red or rosé.
By 2011, the VDQS category will be eliminated altogether.
When Algeria
was still a French colony, a number of Algerian crus
were granted VDQS status. At the time of Algerian independence in 1962, they numbered 12.
The frequency with which new VDQS are created have varied over the years; between 1984 and 1994 not a single new VDQS was added.
As a result of the on-going crisis in the French wine industry, Bernard Pomel was tasked with making proposals on how to remedy the situation. The so-called Pomel report, which was presented to the French minister of agriculture on March 23, 2006 among other things proposed a simplification of the French wine classification. This included eliminating the VDQS category. After political deliberations that somewhat delayed the initial timelines for the reform, the French parliament made the proposal into law in December 2007. The final wines that can be labelled VDQS will be those of the 2010 vintage, and by December 31, 2011, VDQS will be removed from the classification system. Existing VDQS areas will have until then to either qualify for full AOC status, or to become Vin de pays. Almost all VDQS areas have opted to try for AOC status. They initiated the relevant procedures in 2008-2009.
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
, below Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) in rank, but above Vin de pays
Vin de pays
Vin de pays is a French term meaning "country wine". Vins de pays are a step in the French wine classification which is above the table wine classification, but below the VDQS and Appellation d'origine contrôlée classifications...
(country wine). VDQS is sometimes written as AOVDQS, with AO standing for Appellation d'Origine. VDQS wines are subject to restrictions on yield and vine variety, among others.
There are relatively few VDQS, as they typically move onto AOC status after a number of years, so VDQS represents a small part of the total French wine production. In 2005, VDQS wines made up 0.9% of the total wine production, which meant 409,472 hectoliter. 42.3% of the VDQS wines produced in that year were white, with 57.7% being either red or rosé.
By 2011, the VDQS category will be eliminated altogether.
History
The VDQS category was created in 1949 to fill the gap between Vin de pays (VdP) and the AOC category, which is meant to be the most prestigious category with demanding requirements. Typically VDQS is a stepping stone to full AOC status, and unlike VdP covers local rather than regional areas.When Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
was still a French colony, a number of Algerian crus
Cru (wine)
Cru is a French wine term which is traditionally translated as "growth", as it was originally the past participle of the verb "croitre" . As a wine term it is closely connected to terroir in the sense of an "extent of terrain having a certain physical homogeneity ....
were granted VDQS status. At the time of Algerian independence in 1962, they numbered 12.
The frequency with which new VDQS are created have varied over the years; between 1984 and 1994 not a single new VDQS was added.
As a result of the on-going crisis in the French wine industry, Bernard Pomel was tasked with making proposals on how to remedy the situation. The so-called Pomel report, which was presented to the French minister of agriculture on March 23, 2006 among other things proposed a simplification of the French wine classification. This included eliminating the VDQS category. After political deliberations that somewhat delayed the initial timelines for the reform, the French parliament made the proposal into law in December 2007. The final wines that can be labelled VDQS will be those of the 2010 vintage, and by December 31, 2011, VDQS will be removed from the classification system. Existing VDQS areas will have until then to either qualify for full AOC status, or to become Vin de pays. Almost all VDQS areas have opted to try for AOC status. They initiated the relevant procedures in 2008-2009.