Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure
Vin de Qualité Supérieure Délimité, VDQS ( German: " higher quality wines from a limited growing area " ) is a French term for quality wines.
These wines corresponding to German quality wines produced in specified regions. The wine must originate 100% from the specified region of origin. Qualitatively they are the AOC wines not adjusted, although they often attaches a quality level deeper in the hierarchy of French wines. The VDQS represents a precursor to Appellation d' Origine, many former VDQS have now managed to climb to the AOC wine.
In France there are still around 30 VDQS names with various sub- names ( places, locations, types of wine ) in Lorraine, Burgundy, Savoy, Provence, the Loire Valley ( wine region Loire), Languedoc -Roussillon, in the Côtes du Rhône ( wine region Rhône ) and southwest France. It is usually at quite small, little-known wine regions with low production.