Anivin announces Vin de France Best Value Selection 2021

Anivin de France has announced that 146 wines have been selected as ambassador wines for 2021 following this year’s tasting of nearly 500 wines.

A total of 484 wines were entered from a total of 103 French wine companies, with 31 companies winning a gold medal.

The 146 winning wines were split into two categories: 52 gold medals (52 in 2020); and 94 silver medals (79 in 2020).

The number of gold medals demonstrates the consistent outstanding quality of the wines in this denomination. Click here for a full list of the 2021 selection.

The total number of award-winning wines amounts to 30% of the samples entered, the standard set by the OIV, which is respected in the judging process.

The wines were chosen in Paris in February at a blind tasting by 28 wine buyers and winemakers. It was moderated by members of the OEnologues de France.

Due to the pandemic, the event was subject to strict social distancing and safety conditions this year, with the tasting taking place over six days across two weeks.

Anivin de France has opted for a different way of marketing the results of this year’s competition.

In the absence of physical salons, the medal-winning wines will be featured at the digital salon Hopwine on the Vin De France stand from 19-23 April; an email burst featuring the award winners will be sent to over 1,400 international buyers; and the results of the competition will be featured db’s June issue.

In the UK, sales of Vin De France wines are consistently positive – the UK is the number one export market in volume and value for VDF wines with grape varieties on the label, representing 24% of export volume and 22% export value.

A total of 21.5 million bottles of VDF with grape varieties on the label were exported to the UK in 2020, up 12% versus 2019, amounting to €39.3m in value.

“Despite the enormous difficulties of 2020, Vin De France has not only maintained, but increased its popularity with consumers across the globe. VDF appeals to both traditional and new markets who appreciate the creativity and innovation which the wines in this category represent,” Valérie Pajotin, director of Anivin de France said.

Vin De France (VDF) is a national classification created in 2009 in Europe following changes in the regulations about the European nomenclature of wine categories.

The wines can be either a single varietal wine, or a blend, and they can state both the grape variety/varieties and the vintage on the label.

Vin de France has become the national denomination for France, and as such is complementary to both PDO (AOC) and PGI wines. The category offers basic, premium and super-premium wines.