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Classification of French Wine

French wine is divided into appellations, which define the quality of the different wines.

Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée or AOC

The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée guarantees wines of high quality, with history and a specific area of origin, which are produced following strict guidelines. On a wine label, it means that the wine has come from a specific area of France and has been produced to certain criteria. This is very similar to the production of Cheddar cheese or Leicester in the United Kingdom.

Every year, in every appellation, each vat of wine is tasted by a panel of producers before it is awarded appellation status.

In France there are over 470 appellation wines and over 80 for other naturally produced products. Examples of the best known appellation wines are Bordeaux, Champagne, Chablis and of course, Fitou.

The AOC was first created in 1935 when Jean Capus, a senator from Bordeaux, instigated a law, which determined that an AOC would identify a particular production area, specific grape varieties, minimal alcohol content and wine making methods.

Since 1947, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) sets the rules and controls the system for awarding of AOC status.

Vin de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS)

VDQS wines are generally very similar in quality and in production to AOC wines. Essentially a VDQS is a wine which has not yet obtained AOC status. For example, Durban obtained VDQS status for its red wines in 1951, which became part of the AOC Corbières in 1985 when the appellation was created.

Vin de Pays

There exists more than 150 different Vin de Pays in France, but it is a wider, more flexible appellation for wine than AOC.

A Vin de Pays is a wine that comes from a specific area, for example Vin de Pays d’Oc from the Oc area. Vin de Pays does not have the strict controls that Appellation wines undergo, especially regarding the type of grape variety that can be used. Producers often opt to make Vin de Pays rather than appellation wine as it gives them greater freedom in the elaboration of the wine. Also grape variety, single varietals such as Chardonnay, can be mentioned on the label.

Vin de Table

Vin de Table is the most basic level of wine in France. The wines can be blended between regions and the regulations are much more relaxed.

The wine can either come exclusively from French vineyards and therefore be called a Vin de Table français or it can be produced from several vineyard areas within the European Union.

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