Pays d'Oc - a snapshot
- The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Pays d'Oc covers an area of 120,000 hectares.
- The designation's 1,200 independent wineries and 175 co-operatives make most of the wines as single varietals complemented by dual varietals and blends.
- Pays d'Oc PGI is the leading European geographical indication for varietal wines and the top French exporter of still wines by volume.
- 60% of France's Syrah, nearly 40% of its Chardonnay and a third of its Cabernet-Sauvignon and Sauvignon are labelled Pays d'Oc PGI, and the region is home to the world's most extensive Merlot plantings.
- Since the first Pays d'Oc PGI bottles hit the shelves in 1987, the designation has been a huge French success story.
- Sales have soared from 80,000 bottles to a current 800 million - a 24 bottles every second worldwide.
- The UK is the 4th largest export market by volume and value for Pays d'Oc, totalling 220,270 hl worth 48.4 million euros in 2016.
- According to Wine Intelligence, the grape variety is the leading buying cue amongst regular British wine drinkers.
- The Pays d'Oc is France's number one supplier of varietal wines, with a 90% volume share. •The designation's major attributes are the clarity of its labelling and the comprehensive range of wines on offer due to the infinite combination of grape varieties (58) and soil types across this extensive region.
- They represent 71% of all Languedoc-Roussillon wine exports.
- After three decades of soaring sales, the designation's focus has now also turned to maintaining a sustainable supply chain, from production through to marketing.
- An ambitious strategic plan has been launched and aims to develop and maintain vineyard land by providing backing for new wine growers and supporting existing farms via land development schemes.
- Cement partnerships with bulk players via multi-year renewable contracts offering long-term sales outlets for producers and quality procurements for marketers.
- The two-pronged strategy is designed to promote a market-led supply chain and to motivate potential newcomers to Pays d'Oc.
- The aim is for the designation to become a global benchmark for quality-designated varietal wines offering guaranteed traceability for consumers.