V.A. Vacqueyras Valdadige D.o.c. Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Valencia Valpolicella DOC Valpolicella Dop Valréas, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Varietal Varietal Wine Vegetables Veivety Vendange Veneto DOC Veneto Igp Veneto Igt Venezia DOC Venezia Igp Ventoux Ventoux Blanc Ventoux Rouge Veraison Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Vermouth Vernaccia di San Gimignano Vesper Vic Secret Victoria Vidal Blanc Vieux Carré Vigneron Vigneto delle Dolomiti IGT Vignoble Vignoles Vigor Vin Vin de Pay de l'Ile de Beauté Vin de Pays Collines de la Moure Vin de Pays d'Attique Vin de Pays de Cassan Vin de Pays de Collines Rhodaniennes Vin de Pays de Hauterive Vin de Pays de la Drôme Vin de Pays de L'Ardèche Vin de Pays de L'Aude Vin de Pays de L'Hérault Vin de Pays de L'Hérault Blanc Vin de Pays de L'Hérault Rouge Vin de Pays de L'Ile de Beaute Vin de Pays de L'Yonne Vin de Pays de Principaute d'Orange Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône Vin de Pays des Cevennes Vin de Pays des Coteaux de l'Ardèche Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Narbonne Vin de Pays des Coteaux du Verdon Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Vin de Pays des Côtes du Tarn Vin de Pays d'Oc Vin de Pays d'Opountia Locris Vin de Pays du Gard Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France Vin de Pays du val de Montferrand Vin de Pays du Var Vin de Pays Val d'Agly Vin du Pays des Letrinon Vin Santo del Chianti Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Vin Santo di Toscana Vina Vinegar Vinho Regional Lisboa Vinho Verde Vinho Verde DOC Vinifera Vinification Vino de Castilla Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Vinous Vinsobres Vintage Vintage Wines Vintner Viognier Virginia Vistalba Viticulture Vodka Collins Vodka Martini Volatile Volatile Acidity Volnay Vosne-Romanée Vouvray
Vin de Pays de Collines Rhodaniennes
In the 1980s and 1990s the popularity in countries such as the USA and Britain of user-friendly, inexpensive, varietally-labeled wines created the demand for a category of wine that the French were not meeting. This challenge was taken-up in what was the heartland of 'vin ordinaire', that part of France historically called the Midi that covers the Languedoc and Roussillon departments.

Languedoc-Roussillon has planted much of its vineyards with classic varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and even Viognier. These wines, labeled as Vin de Pays d'Oc, have been a notable export success in an era when France has lost export market share to New World regions. Frequently priced at less than $10, these wines often deliver what they promise, without any of the baggage associated with overpriced, mediocre, or downright poor wine from one of France's more glamorous appellations.

Vin de Pays are regional wines that are not subject to the complex, restrictive laws that govern appellations. A low minimum yield, strict maximum production limits, mandated grape varieties, and stipulations about typicity are out. Instead Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon can grow in relative proximity to each other. The producer can make their wine to meet the demands of the market, choosing to have low yields or to oak age. Most importantly, Vin de Pays can be labeled with the grape variety or blend of grape varieties from which they are made.

A disappointing Vin de Pays is merely a poor generic wine. A bad Appellation Controlée wine that is supposedly typical of its appellation is often little more than a sham for which the consumer often pays too much. Self-regulated 'typicity' of their wines from appellations is what allows poor producers to prosper in 'big name' appellations.

Generally, France's appellation system prohibits varietal labeling, Alsace excepted. Thus a Sancerre is not labeled as a Sauvignon Blanc, nor is a Médoc wine labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon. However, some large producers in Bordeaux and even Burgundy have taken to having it both ways by labeling their basic generic appellation wines with varietal labels. Technically, this is forbidden, but the authorities have not enforced the letter of the law.

Although the Pays d'Oc is the best known of Frances regional wines, it is far from the only one. There are over 100 Vin de Pays designations. The large departmental Vin de Pays regions each have a multitude of smaller Vin de Pays sub-regions and the vast majority of the latter will never see the shores of the U.S. (Wine/Appellations)