8 April 2010

FIRST SELECTION “BEST VALUE VIN DE FRANCE” TASTING

FOR NEW CATEGORY DEEMED SUCCESS BY JUDGING PANEL

ANIVIN de France, the organisation responsible for promoting the new “Vin de France” category, is delighted to announce that 27 wines have been selected to represent the category at this year’s London International Wine Fair in May. The wines were chosen by a panel of UK wine experts led by Anthony Rose, wine columnist from the Independent newspaper, and boast 12 top companies/brands (see list below).

“Vin de France” is a new wine classification embracing all wines without regional geographical indication which was created by France following the guidelines from CMO** wine reform. These wines are allowed to state the grape variety/varieties and the vintage on the front label. The new category will give traditional French brands and companies in all regions of France opportunities and platforms to promote their products, and allows them more creativity through allowing blending across the regions. Indeed this increase in innovation and differentiation that the new blending rules will permit is a mid- to long-term goal for the products this category represents.

“Vin de France” in essence represents a simplification of the French offer, with a clear and professional segmentation following three key assets:

1. The category focuses on wine brands;

2. It highlights the taste profiles of the wines (variety/varieties);

3. And finally it clearly shows the country of origin (France)

The category will consequently improve the competitive edge for the wines it represents, as focusing on "taste" means that the category has a greater ability to adapt to consumer demand and expectation. One of its key aims is to reinforce French brands, ensuring consistency of product throughout the year, and from year to year, with the objective of increasing consumer confidence in the category.

Anthony Rose, chairman of the judging panel, comments: “One of the objectives of ‘Vin de France’ is to make French wines at this level more competitive with wines from the New World. The possibility of blending across the regions gives France the opportunity to create a level of consistency. Once shown at the LIWF, this will be picked up by the wine trade, hopefully they will stock the better wines, and that will filter through to the consumer, whose main concerns are taste, value and quality.”

Dominique Vrigneau, Buying Director at Thierry’s and one of the judges, comments: “The quality of what we have tasted is high. I have been most impressed by the white blends, where producers have taken advantage of the new rules and are blending well. Cabernet Sauvignons were also very good. I believe that the bigger French brands will be able to take advantage of Vin de France and make better products thanks to the ability to have more choice in this blending process.”

Valérie Pajotin, Director of ANIVIN de France, comments: “Some people are getting worked up about the effects that the CMO reform will have on the wine industry, but the changes are evolution, not revolution for France. “ Vin de France” focuses on taste which is much more relevant to the consumer, as taste is directly linked to the actual product that the consumer buys.”

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For more information please contact: Chris Skyrme, Sopexa UK

ANIVIN DE FRANCE – Valérie Pajotin - 12 rue Ste-Anne – 75001 Paris

Tel: 00 33 1 47 03 45 44 – Fax : 00 33 1 47 03 97 99 – E-mail :

VIN DE FRANCE WINES SELECTED IN MARCH

WHICH WILL BE SHOWN AT THE LIWF

ACKERMAN / Remy Pannier Dames de la Vallée - Merlot
ACKERMAN / Rémy Pannier Dames de la Vallée - Chenin
ACKERMAN / De Neuville - Chenin
ACKERMAN / De Neuville - Chardonnay
LES DOMAINES AURIOL / So Light Blanc – Terret / Sauvignon Blanc
BADET CLEMENT &CIE / Séraphine Carignan - Syrah
BOTTLE GREEN LTD / French Connection Reserve - Shiraz
BOTTLE GREEN LTD / French Connection Reserve - Chardonnay
BOTTLE GREEN LTD / French Connection Reserve - Merlot
CHAMARRE / Chamarré Sélection - Cabernet Sauvignon / Grenache
EARL CHAUSSY / La Chaussynette – Grenache / Syrah
GAEC DES BOUQUETS / Cuvée des Bouquets Récolte Tardive – Pinot Gris
GAEC DES BOUQUETS / Cuvée des Bouquets – Sauvignon Blanc
GAEC DES BOUQUETS / Cuvée des Bouquets – Pinot Noir
GAEC LA CROIX LA VIE / Rosé
LACHETEAU / Kiwi Sauvignon – Sauvignon Blanc
LGI LANGUEDOC WINES / La Campagne – Sauvignon Blanc
LGI LANGUEDOC WINES / Montgravet - Chardonnay
FRANCOIS LURTON / Les Fumées Blanches - Sauvignon Blanc
FRANCOIS LURTON / Les Fumées Blanches - Rosé
FRANCOIS LURTON / L'Herré – Chardonnay / Gros Manseng
FRANCOIS LURTON / l'Herré - Rosé
FRANCOIS LURTON / Terra Sana - Rosé
SA GUY SAGET / Petite Perrière – Pinot Noir
GROUPE UCCOAR SA / Brise de France - Merlot
GROUPE UCCOAR SA / Brise de France – Cabernet Sauvignon
GROUPE UCCOAR SA / Brise de France - Rosé

Within the context of the reform of the wine market in Europe (CMO1), and the launch of a new wine category VIN DE FRANCE, (with or without indication of grape variety and vintage), ANIVIT2, the French trade organisation for Vins de Pays and Vins de Table wines, became ANIVIN DE FRANCE3, the French trade organisation for Vin de France.

The four national wine unions: AGEV4, CFVDP5, VIF6 and the CCVF7, have tasked ANIVIN DE FRANCE to govern this new wine category. ANIVIN de France has retained the same executive board, including René Moréno, who will continue in his role as President.

The role of the organisation will focus entirely on developing the new category VIN DE FRANCE (wines without regional geographical indication, or GI, as stipulated by the CMO) in accordance with the objectives set by the current CMO for wine, including:

-  Developing domestic and international markets for Vin de France wines, focusing in particular on PR activities, trade exhibitions, competitions, advertising and promotions.

-  Establishing an on-going dialogue with the different industry organisations representing both producers and companies.

-  Improving awareness and organisation of the wine market.

-  Promoting moderate and responsible wine drinking, working in particular with “Vin et Société”, set up to affiliate the entire French wine industry and to promote safe marketing and consumption of alcohol in France.

-  Participating in research and development strategy, in addition to carrying out national and/or international research and development programmes.

1.  Common Market Organisation

2.  Association Nationale Interprofessionnelle des Vins de Table et des Vins de Pays

3.  Association Nationale Interprofessionnelle du Vin de France.

4.  Association Générale des Entreprises Vinicoles (representing wine companies and negociants in France).

5.  Confédération Française des Vins de Pays (representing producers of Vins de Pays and Vin de France)

6.  Vignerons Indépendants de France (representing independent growers in France)

7.  Confédération des Coopératives Vinicoles de France (representing wine co-operatives in France)