Typically, VDQS was a stepping stone to full AOC status, and unlike VdP covered local rather than regional areas.
When Algeria was still a French colony, a number of Algerian crus were granted VDQS status.
[2] As a result of an ongoing crisis in the French wine industry, Bernard Pomel was tasked with making proposals on how to remedy the situation.
[8] After political deliberations that somewhat delayed the initial timelines for the reform, the French parliament made the proposal into law in December 2007.
[9] Existing VDQS areas had until then to either qualify for full AOC status or to become vins de pays.