VDQS was an abbreviation for the French Wine Term Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (Superb Quality Wine Area), according to the French wine quality ranking system. This category was created in 1949 to fill the void between the Vin de Pays (VdP) and the AOP wines. It was an intermediate step to the full AOP status, and this was not the case with the VdP to regions, but much earlier to very local, clearly defined areas. VDQS wines were subject to strict regulations and quality checks by the Office National Interprofessionel des Vins.

Due to numerous promotions from areas to AOP, the importance of the VDQS has been significantly reduced for a long time. When the end of 2007 was decided to lift it under the new European labeling rules, only 19 were left. They could opt for the status of IGP (successor of Vin de Pays) or Appellation d'origine protegée (AOP). Only one wine opted for the IGP status. The rest became AOPs. The term VDQS has been completely abolished as of 31 December 2011. List of items

WIC Newsletter for Professionals 2011 Also see

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