Pays d’Oc adapt certification procedures so as not to disrupt sales

xceptional circumstances call for exceptional procedures. On 31 March, the Pays d'Oc wine producers’ organisation approved the introduction of dispensation from classic certification procedures, to allow wines that have not yet been certified to be marketed and shipped during lockdown. “During the health crisis, it is essential not to interrupt the flow of trade. Because of lockdown, we are no longer able to carry out sampling and tastings, which are usually compulsory before any sale and shipment. After consultation and agreement with INAO (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité), we have therefore introduced an exceptional procedure. This will be applied on a transitional basis during the time that we are not in a position to apply our product checks”, explained Florence Barthès, managing director of the Languedoc organisation.

Bernard Reys, winemaker for the Fabre family in Luc-sur-Orbieu, was the first to submit an application on April 1. “We had an order for rosé in the Netherlands. At the beginning of March, I submitted samples for approval, which were due to be tasted on March 17. I was informed that the tasting had been postponed until May 7. My client was expecting the order to be shipped by the end of March, so I asked to benefit from the special procedure. We were able to bottle the 220 hectolitres of wine. The rosé season is starting and in the Netherlands there is no lockdown. If we hadn't been able to deliver, the customer would certainly have gone elsewhere”, he explained.