Welcome to the World, IGP Lorraine!

[Link] As published in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 6 (2024), France has a new Vin de Pays/Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) for quality sparkling wine: The Lorraine IGP.

This new appellation covers rouge (red), rosé, and blanc (white) sparkling wines produced using the traditional method of sparkling wine production. The appellation covers the French departments of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, and Moselle-all located in the north-east of the country within the area historically known as Lorraine and now part of the Grand Est administrative region. This cool-climate area is defined by the foothills of the Vosges Mountains as well as a series of river valleys derived from the Meuse, Ornain, and Moselle Rivers. Sparkling wine-historically referred to as Grand Mousseux Lorrain-has been produced in the area since the 1870s.

• The cahier des charges lists a total of 17 allowed grape varieties.
  • Allowed white grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Aubin, Auxerrois, Müller-Thurgau, Johanniter, Muscaris, and Solaris
  • Allowed red grapes include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Meunier, Cabernet Cortis, Gamaret, and Pinotin
  • Other allowed grapes include Pinot Gris and Souvignier Gris

• Other requirements for Lorraine IGP wines include the following:
  • The wine may be produced from any grape or grape varieties; the only stipulation is that Riesling may comprise no more than 30% of any given product.
  • The wines must be produced using the traditional method of sparkling wine production (meaning the second fermentation occurs in the same bottle in which it is to be sold) and they require a minimum of 9 months of lees aging.
  • White wines should be pale yellow to deep gold in color; rosé should be salmon-pink, deep pink or "coppery" in color; red wines should have a cherry-red or garnet hue.

We look forward to seeing these sparkling wines on the shelves soon! Welcome to the world, Lorraine IGP!

References/for more information: