What is the "Francs de Pied" label?
The "Francs de Pied" label certifies that the wines bearing it come from ungrafted vines, meaning the vine stocks in the labeled plots are not grafted onto a rootstock.
There are two levels of label recognition:
- "Francs de Pied" Label: The age of cultivation of the varieties concerned is not required, and there is no restriction on the geographical area of cultivation. Recognition is open to all wine regions in the world, with the sole condition that the varieties strictly belong to the species Vitis vinifera L.
- "Francs de Pied" Label, with "Heritage" mention: The vines are planted in the territories where the grape varieties originated or where they have a long-established presence. The geographic area for this recognition includes the historical countries of cultivation of the species Vitis vinifera (Europe, Near East, and Middle East), from its domestication up until the introduction of other Vitis species or their hybrids in these regions. Therefore, only vineyards composed of traditional grape varieties exclusively from the species Vitis vinifera L. are eligible.
This label aims to highlight and preserve a winemaking tradition that spans thousands of years and nearly disappeared following the widespread adoption of grafting after the phylloxera invasion in the second half of the 19th century. This ancestral form of cultivation is now only possible in a limited number of conditions. It represents a heritage that is the last testimony of a method of propagation and selection based on a fine-tuned match between grape variety and its location. It also encompasses associated practices that could not be sustained after grafting became standard. The wines produced claim a uniqueness that expresses the character of their terroir without the filter of a rootstock, and reflect the winemaker's dedication to traditions born of a long viticultural history.
How to obtain the Francs de Pied Label?
To obtain the "Francs de Pied" label, the winemaker must provide indisputable proof (such as DNA analysis) that the vines in question are ungrafted. This requirement also applies to cases where plots may be partially or entirely grafted onto other Vitis vinifera cultivars (a rare but historically known situation, as grafting was practiced to change varieties without uprooting a plot — a method now commonly referred to as "top grafting").
What is the cost of the Francs de Pied label?
The cost of the Francs de Pied label is five hundred euros for two years. The winemaker is also responsible for the costs of DNA analysis and label printing.