Volailles de la Drôme

Volailles de la Drôme (Pintadeaux et Poulets de la Drôme) is a traditional poultry farming designation from the Drôme department in the Dauphiné region of France. The brand covers guinea fowl (pintadeaux) and chickens (poulets) raised outdoors or free-range, fed on a cereal-based diet. The products have been certified with the French Label Rouge since 11 May 1995 and with a European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) since 11 May 2010. The production area includes 369 communes in the Drôme, plus parts of neighbouring departments (Isère, Ardèche, Hautes-Alpes, Vaucluse, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), totalling 665 communes. The brand is known for its high-quality, traditional poultry, with specific breeds and rearing conditions defined in the specification. The guinea fowl is marketed at up to 2 kg, and chickens are either black or yellow, slaughtered after at least 81 days. The brand also includes organic free-range chickens. A chicken festival is held annually in Saint-Laurent-d'Onay in mid-July.

The history of poultry farming in the Drôme region is deeply rooted in local tradition. According to legend, the presence of guinea fowl in the Drôme dates back to Hannibal, who, during his expedition against Rome, was accompanied not only by elephants but also by guinea fowl that are said to have settled in the area. However, their gastronomic reputation only emerged at the end of the 19th century, thanks to poultry and guinea fowl farming in the department. This production was sold in important regional poultry markets, including the one in Grâne. Over the decades, poultry production in the Drôme developed. The awarding of the Label Rouge to chickens and guinea fowl on 11 May 1995 attested to the superior quality of the products and confirmed this reputation. Since then, these poultry have been protected by the European Union through a PGI dated 11 May 2010. The production specifications ensure traceability and quality, with independent certification by Qualité France SAS. The production area covers 369 communes in the Drôme and parts of neighbouring departments, totalling 665 communes. The brand continues to be active, with annual festivities such as the chicken festival in Saint-Laurent-d'Onay.

• Award of Label Rouge to chickens and guinea fowl

• Award of European PGI

• Temporary suspension of certain PGI specification clauses due to avian influenza

High-quality, traditional, Label Rouge and PGI-certified poultry from the Drôme region.

• Pintadeaux de la Drôme

  Guinea fowl with grey-blue plumage and dark legs, raised outdoors, slaughtered after 87 to 100 days, fed 100% plant-based with 70% cereals, marketed at up to 2 kg.

• Poulets de la Drôme

  Chickens either black (black plumage and legs, white-grey skin) or yellow (brown plumage, yellow legs and skin), raised outdoors, slaughtered after at least 81 days, fed 100% plant-based with 80% cereals.

• Poulets fermiers bio

  Organic free-range chickens derived from yellow chickens, slaughtered at 81 days, fed 100% plant-based.

1. 1Wikidata entry for Volailles de la Drômewikidata.org
2. 2French Wikipedia article on Volailles de la Drômefr.wikipedia.org