What does IGP mean?
IGP is the EU's protected geographical indication: the wine comes from a stated area but follows looser rules than a designation of origin like AOP.
Also known as: Indication Géographique Protégée, PGI, Vin de Pays
IGP stands for Indication Géographique Protégée in French and Indicazione Geografica Protetta in Italian, and means protected geographical indication (PGI). It is the middle level of the EU system, between the protected designation of origin (AOP, DOP) and wine without a geographical indication.
At least 85 per cent of the grapes must come from the stated area, and the wine must have a link to the place. The rules are looser than for a designation of origin: more grape varieties are often allowed, yields may be higher and the producer has more freedom over winemaking and ageing.
In France IGP replaced the former Vin de Pays, and the largest is IGP Pays d'Oc in the south. Italy's equivalent is called IGT, Spain's Vino de la Tierra and Germany's Landwein. All count as IGP in the EU.
Many producers choose IGP deliberately, for instance to grow varieties not permitted in the local AOP or to make a wine in their own style. IGP therefore tells you about origin but not about the ambition behind the wine.