Puy-de-Dome is the IGP title covering the red, white and rosé wines from the administrative department of the same name in central France. While the department’s location within the Massif Central – the low mountain range that covers south-central France – makes it less than perfect for viticulture, small vineyards remain, planted mostly to Gamay.
The hilly topography of Puy-de-Dome has been shaped by volcanic activity over time, and the department is named for the eponymous volcano that dominates the landscape. This has shaped the terroir here, and volcanic granite and basalt soils dominate the department. These soils contribute to Puy-de-Dome’s viticultural suitability – they store warmth during the day, reflecting it back on the vines at night. This is a particularly important consideration in the cool continental climate of the region, where grapes need all the help they can get to achieve optimal ripeness.
© Wikimedia/Alain Rigail
Vines are located on slopes within Puy-de-Dome where good water drainage and sunlight exposure add to the suitability of the terroir. A foehn wind generated by the mountains to the northwest also helps in this regard, bringing warm, dry air to the vineyards, mitigating the effects of heavy rainfall.
Puy-de-Dome lies in a part of France that is famously bereft of vines, although the department is home to the little-known Cotes d’Auvergne AOC appellation. The vineyards that fall outside of this area, or do not meet stylistic or winemaking requirements of the AOC, are covered instead by the Puy-de-Dome IGP.
About three-quarters of Puy-de-Dome IGP wine is red, made predominantly from Gamay (although a wide range of grape varieties are permitted). Smaller amounts of white and rosé wines are made as well, from grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Aligote and Pinot Blanc.
Puy-de-Dome was previously covered by the Vin de Pays category, but changes to French wine laws in 2009 has seen this renamed as Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP). It is hoped that this name change will improve the image of regional French wines in the international market.
