Pays d'Oc

If you've vacationed in the south of France, you've probably visited the Pays d'Oc region. Embracing the Mediterranean from Spain to Provence, this region is famed as much for its Grenache, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as its endless sunshine. Pays d'Oc covers non-AOC wines made across this large, sun-kissed region, known as France's "New World." Far from the regulations of the AOC system, pioneering winemakers headed here to experiment, crafting many now-famous wines that often state their grape variety on the label—not something that was common in France before then. IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) within France’s wine classification system focuses on controlling regional and geographical origin. The category is less restrictive than the AOC classification and gives winemakers more freedom with style and taste profile when creating wines.