EU Wine Law - CMS Intro Somm Flashcards
What system was created by the Institut national de l’origine et de la qualité (INAO) in 1935?
Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
What prompted the creation of the AOC system?
Widespread fraud in the wine industry due to chronic wine shortages
Unscrupulous winemakers were passing off inferior wines—or even ones sourced from other countries—as if they had originated from French regions or estates.
What disasters led to increased wine fraud in the late 1800s?
- Vine disease
- Phylloxera epidemic
What is the primary purpose of the INAO?
- Restore confidence in the wine industry
- Define and protect quality and authenticity of specific wines and wine regions
INAO is a government-based organization.
What legislation was enacted in 1905 in the context of French wine law?
Legislation to prevent the misrepresentation of products
This legislation contributed to the establishment of the AOC system.
Who banded together in 1923 to create rules for viticulture in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Baron Le Roy and other producers
Their rules helped lay the framework for the broader Appellation Contrôleé system.
What was one of the original intents of the rules created in 1923 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
To protect producers from dishonest competition
These rules evolved into consumer protection laws guaranteeing product integrity.
What does the AOC system designate?
The places where the best French wines are made
It also defines how these wines should be produced.
What is the EU wine-quality designation introduced in 2009?
EU Standardization — Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP)
AOP aims to raise quality and achieve uniform standards across EU member countries.
What are the two quality categories created under the AOP?
- Wines with geographic indication
- Wines without geographic indication
What traditional wine label quality terminology is still in use today?
AOC in France and DOCG in Italy
Many EU regions use their traditional terminology alongside the new AOP.
What is Vin de France?
Vin de France is a designation for French wine without geographic indication.
It is the least restrictive designation and represents 20% of French wine.
What percentage of French wines are designated as Vin de France?
20%
What are the restrictions for Vin de France wines?
- High yields permitted
- No specific place of origin allowed on the label
- Variety/vintage allowed on label
- Oak chips allowed
This is the least restrictive designation.
Is a specific place of origin allowed on the label for Vin de France wines?
No
Are oak chips allowed in Vin de France wine production?
Yes
What is the least restrictive French wine designation with geographic indication?
IGP/Vin de Pays
What percentage of all French wine is IGP/Vin de Pays?
30%
IGP stands for Indication Géographique Protégée, which allows for a wider variety of wine styles.
How many delimited regions are there for IGP/Vin de Pays wines?
74 delimited regions
What are the categories that the 74 delimited regions of IGP/Vin de Pays is divided into?
- Regional areas
- Departmental areas
- Zones
What is a key characteristic of IGP/Vin de Pays wines compared to AOC/AOP wines?
Fewer restrictions
Are hybrids allowed in IGP/Vin de Pays wines?
Yes
Can IGP/Vin de Pays wines be varietally labeled?
Yes
What is the minimum percentage of fruit that must originate from the stated geographic region in IGP/Vin de Pays wines?
85%
What percentage of all French wine is designated as AOC/AOP?
50%
What is the highest designation for French wines?
AOC/AOP
This designation is known for its strict regulations.
How can the boundaries of AOC/AOP wines be defined, and what are they often based on?
- Can be a larger regional area, a small village, or even a single vineyard
- Often based on soil composition
What practices are regulated under the AOC/AOP designation?
- Grape or grape varieties planted
- Viticultural practices—what is planted and where
- Yield per hectare
- Type of vine training used
- Irrigation, if permitted at all
- Degree of alcohol minimum and maximum
- Vinification or winemaking technique
What vinification/winemaking techniques are regulated under the AOC/AOP designation?
- Aging requirements
- Residual sugar allowance
What is the minimum percentage of fruit that must originate from the stated geographic region in AOC/AOP wines?
100%
