NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Behind the success story of today's Pays d'Oc IGP wines lays the winning-strategy put together by Robert Skalli, California wine producer and wine merchant and Jacques Gravegeal, French wine producer. This event allows us to go back to the birth of this grape varietal wine concept developed in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and to look into what is coming next for the dynamic and talented winemakers of the denomination.
*IGP: Protected Geographical Indication
An event to honor the Pays d'Oc IGP wines and those who brought it to life
In celebration of the 25th vintage, both original founders, Robert Skalli and Jacques Gravegeal, who remains the chairman of the Pays d'Oc IGP Producers' Union and Trade Association today, will commemorate the birth and the origin of the denomination by hosting a silver-year celebration in San Francisco at the trendy, downtown art-space, 111 Minna Gallery on November 6th, 2013. The dynamic Master Sommelier, Fred Dexheimer, will lead an engaging presentation, while tasting Pays d'Oc IGP Wines, uniquely paired with delectable treats!
1987, the birth of Pays d'Oc IGP wines, leading to a new dynamic for the region's economy
It was after a trip to California in 1987 that Jacques Gravegeal and Robert Skalli started the success story of Pays d'Oc IGP wines, at that time called Vin de Pays d'Oc. The vineyard needed to be qualitatively restructured to save the regional economy.
Jacques, a wine producer from the Hérault, traveled to the Sunshine State to research its varietal-based wine industry. From this trip, both he and Robert Skalli, a California wine producer and major wine merchant, were convinced that if the same concept were adopted in Languedoc-Roussillon soils, varietal-driven wines could be the solution and open large export wine markets to the region.
Unlike the traditional French concept of the village and vineyard names that grace AOC wine labels, Jacques and Robert emphasized the acclaimed and international grape varieties cultivated in this part of Mediterranean France.
The Pays d'Oc IGP is now the reference in French Varietal wine
Fast forward 25 years and Pays d'Oc IGP wines are internationally recognized, in due part to the easy-to-grasp concept of grape variety, while also endorsing the idea of quality and diversity. Consumers in cosmopolitan cities such as London, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Toronto, Moscow, as well as more exotic places around the world, enjoy Pays d'Oc IGP wines -- 50% of the production is exported to 170 different countries, making them the 5th grape varietal wine exporter worldwide, in terms of volume.
Every second, 27 bottles of Pays d'Oc IPG are sold worldwide.
Much has been achieved in the last 25 years: 2,600 structures have been amassed, with 20,000 winemakers and 56 different grape varieties to promote. The Pays d'Oc IGP vineyard now represents 100 000 hectares: from 200 000 hl produced in 1987, the current production is over 6 million hl. Pays d'Oc IGP is the largest French IGP denomination, out of 75. With a grape varietal strategy, the Pays d'Oc IGP has become the leader in quality French varietal wines with the USA being its most dynamic non-European market in 2012.
PAYS D'OC IGP WINE FACTS:
- Area covered: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard and 6 towns in Lozère; 220,000 acres: 1 out of 3 acres in Languedoc-Roussillon (1 out of 10 in France) produce Pays d'Oc IGP wines
- 56 authorized grape varieties - 3 colors: Red, White and Rosé
- Quality wines, controlled and checked with a guarantee of traceability
- 2,600 structures and 20,000 winemakers
- 1st out of 75 French IGP wines in volume
- 65% of French IGP wines
- 90% of French IGP varietal wines
- Leading French exporter by volume, 2nd in value and 5th world varietal wine exporter by volume
PAYS D'OC IGP WINES IN THE UNITED STATES:
- 7th destination in volume and 7th in value (4th destination in volume and 3rd in value outside of European markets)
- The United States represent 4.7% of Pays d'Oc IGP wines exported with 111 680 hl in 2012.
- Breakdown by color: 76% Red & Rose and 24% White.
- Breakdown by packaging: 89% bottled and 11% bulk.
- In value, Pays d'Oc IGP exports represent € 32.45 million.
- Pays d'Oc IGP represents 70% in volume of Languedoc-Roussillon wines exported to the United States.
www.paysdoc-wines.com
For press queries - interviews, samples, imagery, please contact:
Sopexa USA:
Marie Christina Batich
Tel: (212) 386-7416
Marie-christina.batich@sopexa.com
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