reducing the need for subsidies. This also implied reforms of the European Union wine regulations, which went into effect on August 1, 2009. The reform included some liberalisation of the regulations surrounding the EU table wine category. Following that reform, France in 2009 decided to introduce the vin de France category as a replacement for vin de table. The introduction of the category took place in 2010. Reception When the category was introduced, some commentators expected many French producers to start using the vin de France category instead of categories with geographical indications, in particular the IGP (formerly vin de pays) category. Some saw the vin de France category as more adapted to the needs of large wine companies rather than small producers. Notes and references External links ANIVIN de France, the trade organisation for Vin de France French wine Wine classification