EU Wine Law

Question 1

What is the government organization in France that oversees the AOC system?

Answer 1

Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualite

(INAO)

Question 2

What does AOC stand for?

Answer 2

Appellation d’Origine Controlee

Question 3

What was the AOC system created, and in what year?

Answer 3

To combat rampant wine fraud and restore trust in France’s wine Industry.

It was created in 1935

Question 4

The need for the AOC system in France was ignited due to rampant wine fraud in the late 1800’s.

Why did wine fraud happen in the first place?

Answer 4

Chronic wine shortages were everywhere in France following the outbreak and lasting effect of phylloxera, which started in the late 1800’s.

There were wine shortages also due to vine disease sustained several years in a row.

Question 5

What does the AOC system do?

Answer 5

It defines, protects and regulates the authenticity and quality of certain wines and wine regions within France.

Question 6

Give an example of how the AOC regulates wines from a specific region.

Answer 6

It regulates what grapes are allowed to be planted in specific wine regions.

Question 7

Are most French wines identified by their AOC or the grape they’re made from?

Answer 7

AOC

Question 8

What does AOP stand for?

Answer 8

Appellation d’Origine Protegee

Question 9

When was the AOP system created and by whom?

Answer 9

2009
Created by the EU as a wine-quality designation with the intent of raising quality standards across all countries within the EU

AOC is the same as AOP

AOP is the revised designation with higher standards and was changed in 2009

Question 10

What were the 2 quality categories created in the AOP system?

Answer 10

1. wines with geographic indication
2. wines without geographic indication

Question 11

What is the quality level in France that is equivalent to an AOP wine without geographic indication?

Answer 11

Vin de France

1/5 of all French wines are VdF

Question 12

Which has fewer restrictions: IGP or AOC wines?

Answer 12

IGP has fewer restrictions.

AOC is the most restrictive

Question 13

What is the least restrictive designation in France?

Answer 13

Vin de France is the least restrictive designation.
The 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.

Question 14

What are wines with the Vin de France designation allowed to do (or not do)?

Answer 14

*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

Question 15

Are oak chips allowed to be used in wines with the Vin de France appellation?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

Hybrid grape varietals:

Are they allowed in IGP wines?

Are they allowed in AOC wines

Answer 16

IGP–Yes

AOC–No

Question 17

What are two quality levels in France that allow wines with geographic indication?

Answer 17

1. IGP/Vin de Pays (30% of all French wine)
2. AOC/AOP (50% of all French wine)

Question 18

What are some of the tightest restrictions AOC laws impose on winemakers who want to use the AOC on their labels?

Answer 18

*Vineyard practices
regulated
–what grapes are planted
–crop yields
–irrigation, if its permitted
–type of vine trellising
–alcohol minimums and maximums

*Winemaking techniques regulated
–whether residual sugar is allowed and how much
–aging and bottling requirements
–100% of the grapes must be from the stated AOC/AOP

Question 19

When a wine is labeled with an AOC/AOP, what percentage of grapes must come from stated area?

Answer 19

100%

Question 20

In Italy, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines without a geographic indication?

Answer 20

Vino

Question 21

In Italy, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines with a geographic indication?

Answer 21

*IGP/IGT
*DOP (includes DOC/DOCG)

Question 22

In Germany, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines without a geographic indication?

Answer 22

Wein

Question 23

In Germany, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines with a geographic indication?

Answer 23

1. Landwein (PGI)
2. Qualitatswein (PDO)
3. Pradikatswein (PDO)

Question 24

In Austria, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines without a geographic indication?

Answer 24

Wein

Question 25

In Austria, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines with a geographic indication?

Answer 25

1. Landwein (PGI)
2. Qualitatswein (PDO)
   *Within this is Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) which is for dry wines only.
3. Pradikatswein (PDO)

Question 26

In Spain, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines without a geographic indication?

Answer 26

VIno

Question 27

In Spain, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines with a geographic indication?

Answer 27

1. IGP/ Vino de la Tierra
2. DOP
   *VCIG (Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geogafica
   *DO (Denominacion de Origen)
   *DOCa (Denominacion de Origen Calificada)
   *Vino de Pagos

Question 28

In Portugal, what is the quality level that corresponds to wines without a geographic indication?

Answer 28

Vinho

Question 29

In Portugal, what is the quality levels that corresponds to wines with a geographic indication?

Answer 29

1. IGP
2. DOP