IGP area for red, rosé and white wines in southwest France, which corresponds in terms of area to the AOC area Cognac. It comprises municipalities in the two départements of Charente and Charente-Maritim with the Atlantic islands of Ile d'Oléron and Ile de Ré. Narrower geographical names may be added to the name Charentais: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Ile de Ré (municipalities of Ars-en-Ré and Saint-Martin-de-Ré), Ile d'Oléron (all municipalities on the island) and Saint-Sornin (municipalities of Montbron, Orgedeuil, Saint-Sornin, Vouton, Rancogne, Vilhonneur and Yvrac-et-Malleyrand). The main red wine varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat, Gamay and Pinot Noir. The main white wine varieties are Arriloba, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Ugni Blanc(Trebbiano Toscano).
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