Atlantique is the IGP title covering red, white and rosé wines made in a large area on the west coast of France. While the land here is a veritable carpet of vines, the production of IGP wines is just a small portion of the output: this region is more famous for being home to the hallowed vineyards of Bordeaux.
The catchment area for the IGP covers all of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne and Gironde, as well as a sizable part of the Lot-et-Garonne department. The low Massif Central mountain range marks the eastern edge of the area, and contributes a series of rivers that run through the Atlantique region on their way to the sea.
© Wikimedia/Chell Hill
The climate here is definitively maritime, with the Atlantic Ocean providing both warmth in winter and cooling influences in summer. Long, sunny summers make for good ripening conditions and gentle sea breezes bring movement and freshness to the vineyards, particularly in the westernmost parts of the Atlantique region.
Vineyards can be found on the alluvial terraces of the region’s many rivers, where gravelly soils and more sandy loess soils provide a well-drained environment for grapegrowing. Most vineyards that produce IGP wines cover areas that are outside of other AOC-level appellations.
Atlantique IGP wines are usually made up of the classic Bordeaux varieties, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Production is around half red, with white and rosé making up equal parts of the rest. Varietal labeling is becoming more and more common among Atlantique producers.
The high quality of the terroir on the Atlantic coast – home to the Medoc and Saint-Emilion, some of the most famous AOCs in France – means that IGP wines are few and far between, particularly outside the area. French wine authorities are hoping to improve the image of regional French wines, beginning by changing the less-prestigious Vin de Pays denomination to Indication Géographique Protégée.
