EU Wine Law Flashcards
What is the government organization in France that oversees the AOC system?
Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité
what does AOC stand for?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée
Quick tip; when figuring out what the appellation is on a French wine, look for those AOC words. the appellation will be between “ appellation” and “Contrôlée”
why was the AOC system created, and in what year?
To combat rampant wine fraud and restore trust in France’s wine industry.
It was created in 1935
The need for the AOC system in France was ignited due to rampant wine fraud in the late 1800s. Why did wine fraud happen in the first place?
Chronic wine shortages where everywhere in France following the outbreak and lasting effects of phylloxera, which ad started in the late 1800s.
There were wine shortages also due to vine disease sustained several years in a row.
What does the AOC system do?
It defines, protects, and regulates the authenticity and quality of certain wines and wine regions within France.
give an example of how the AOC regulates wine from a specific region.
it regulates what grapes are allowed to be planted in specific wine regions.
Are most French wines identified by their AOC or grape they’re made from?
AOC.
For example, chardonnay is grown pretty much all over France, but it performs differently in different AOCs. In cool climate Chablis, chardonnay is lean, focused, flinty, and shows bright lemon notes while in Mâconnais, a warmer climate, chardonnay is richer and rounder with riper stone and apple fruits. This is why people talk about France’s wines by appellation, not by the grape; they talk about the style of the place.
What does AOP stand for?
Appellation d’Origine Protégée
When was the AOP system created and by whom?
- created by the EU as a wine-quality designation with the intent of raising quality standards across all countries with the EU.
Note: AOC is same thing as AOP, but the latter is the revised designation (with higher standards) and was changed in 2009
what were the 2 quality categories created in the AOP system?
- wines WITH geographic indication
2. wines WITHOUT geographic indication
what is the quality level in France that is equivalent to an AOP wine WITHOUT geographic indication?
Vin de France
1/5 of all France wines are VdF
Which has fewer restriction: IGP or AOC wines?
- IGP = fewewr restrictions than AOC
- AOC = the most restrictive
What is the least restrictive designation in France?
Vin de France is the least restrictive designation, which means a winemaker has a lot of latitude to do what they want – they can put grapes in blends that aren’t allowed under AOC laws, use grapes outside of a delimited AOC area, maybe not age a wine as long as the AOC laws require, etc.
What are wines with the Vin de France designation allowed to do (or not do)?
- high yields are ok
- don’t need to put a specific place on the label stating where the wine is from
- grape and vintage are allowed on the label
are oak chips allowed to be used in wines with the Vin de France appellation?
Yes, oak chips are allowed in Vin de France wines
Hybrid grape varietals:
Are they allowed in IGP wines?
Are they allowed in AOC wines?
Hybrids are allowed for IGP, but not for AOC
Which of the following is true:
- Neither IGP nor AOC wines are allowed to put the name of the grape on the label.
- IGP wines can be labeled by grape, but AOC wines cannot.
- AOC wines can be labeled by grape, but IGP wines cannot.
- Both IGP and AOC wines can be labeled by grape.
- IGP wines can be labelled by their grape, AOC wines cannot put the name of the grape on their label
what are the two quality levels in France that allow wines WITH geographic indication?
- IGP/Vin de Pays
- 30% of all French wine - AOC/AOP
- 50% of all French wine
What are some of the tightest restrictions AOC laws impose on winemakers who want to use the AOC on their labels?
Vineyard practices regulated: • what grapes are planted • crop yields • irrigation, if it's even permitted • type of vine trellising • alcohol minimums and maximums Winemaking techniques regulated: • whether residual sugar is allowed and how much • aging + bottling requirements • 100% of the grapes used must be from the stated AOC/AOP
When a wine is labeled with an AOC/AOP, what percentage of grapes must come from stated area?
100%
In Italy, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITHOUT a geographic indication?
Vino
In Italy, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITH a geographic indication?
- IGP/IGT
- DOP (Includes DOC + DOCG)
In Germany, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITHOUT a geographic indication?
Wein
In Germany, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITH a geographic indication?
- Landwein (PGI)
- Qualitätswein (PDO)
- Prädikatswein (PDO)
In Austria, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITHOUT a geographic indication?
Wein
In Austria, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITH a geographic indication?
- Landwein (PGI)
- Qualitätswein (PDO)
• w/in this is the Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC), which is for dry wines only - Prädikatswein (PDO)
In Spain, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITHOUT a geographic indication?
Vino
In Spain, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITH a geographic indication?
- IGP/Vino de la Tierra
- DOP
• VCIG (Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geogáfica)
• DO (Denominación de Origen)
• DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada
• Vino de Pagos
In Portugal, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITHOUT a geographic indication?
Vinho
In Portugal, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines WITH a geographic indication?
- IGP
2. DOP
