VIFA

A VIFA, or Variété d’Intérêt à Fin d’Adapatation (Variety of Interest for Adaptation Purposes), is a grape variety authorized in certain appellations on an experimental basis, particularly to address environmental and societal challenges. For example, the varieties Floréal, Vidoc, and Souvignier gris are being tested in the Rhône Valley, within Côtes du Rhône and Costières de Nîmes appellations, due to their resistance to diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew.

VIFAs result from a process established by the CNAOV (Comité National des AOC Viticoles – National Committee for AOC Wines): producers who wish to do so may plant and use these varieties under specific agreements. These agreements allow up to 5% of the vineyard area and 10% of the final blend, for the purpose of monitoring the varieties’ behaviour in the vineyard and in the wines over a 10-year observation period.

As of April 2025, the following appellations have included VIFAs in their specifications:

• AOP Côtes du Rhône: Carignan blanc B, Floréal B, Rolle (Vermentino) B, Vidoc N
• AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages: Carignan blanc B, Floréal B, Rolle (Vermentino) B, Vidoc N
• AOP Costières de Nîmes: Montepulciano N, Morrastel N (also known as Minustellu or Graciano), Piquepoul blanc B, Souvignier gris Rs, Tourbat B