There is something about a glass of wine that can transport you to a sun drenched valley overlooking clear blue waters of Europe. Recently, I got to escape the Pacific West Coast to the beautiful vineyards of Southern France during a tasting with Pays d'Oc IGP Wines.
What is Pays d'Oc IGP?
At the event, I learned that the label, Pays d'Oc IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) is a protected geographical designation for wines that are produced within Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. This is similar to how sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it is produced within the Champagne region of France because "Champagne" has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). What sets Pays d’Oc apart is the allowance of 58 different grape varieties, giving winemakers remarkable creative freedom to craft unique and expressive wines. The region offers a diverse selection of whites, rosés, and reds, ensuring there’s something to suit every palate.
The Pays d'Oc Wine tasting took place at the Pacific Institute Culinary of Arts on Granville Island. As part of the evenings activities, we had the opportunity to step into the kitchen and assemble two amuse-bouches. While I am usually eager to eat, there are a couple of things I tend to avoid - namely raw seafood and grilled onions. So, to my surprise (and slight dismay), the first bite was a scallop ceviche and the second was a grilled onion cured meat crostini. My cooking partner had no complaints as they got to enjoy my portion too, so in the end it worked out well!
It was such a treat to have Jenna Briscoe, a seasoned wine educator, lead us through a tasting of four different varietals. As someone who is new to the world of wine, I took plenty of notes like the diligent student I am. In fact, I was the only one who took notes! What can I say, I take my learning seriously!
Originally I was going to share all of the detailed information on each of the wines, but you can find that information from a quick google search. Instead, I am going to share my thoughts as someone new to the world of wine.
If I had to pick between red, white and rosé, I would go with a white or rosé. Whites and rosés tend to have more sugars and a more lighter fruitier flavour palette. The whites and rosés we tasted were a Argali 2023 (grenache, cinsault), Villa Blanche 2023 (chardonnay) and Les Fleurs Sauvages 2022 (Voignier). All three of them had a wonderful aroma of strone fruits like peach and nectarines. They were bright and refreshing and also had a great crispy flavour. I also learned that whites and rosés are served chilled, so they were refreshing during a warm summer day.
I can say with certainty that red wine is not for me. Red wine has a very distinct flavour that could be attributed to the tannins that red wine tends to be rich in. I am also prone to migraines and sulphates in red wine can promote more migraines, so it is probably for the best that I stay away from the reds. Additionally, reds are served at cellar temperature, not chilled, so the flavour of the reds are richer.
There is such a vast selection of Pays d'Oc IGP Wines, so there is a wine for everyone to enjoy. I also appreciate that the Pays d'Oc IGP Wines primarily range between $15 to $30 making them accessible for most to try. I checked BC Liquor and there are several of the Pays d'Oc Wines available.
A setting must have been accidentally changed on my camera that day because all of my pictures are horribly blurred. Sadly no fun wine pictures with this blogpost.
BYES
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