French Wine Law

Question 1

When and why was the INAO was created?

Answer 1

1935, to delimit and enforce the appellation system

Question 2

What does the INAO regulate?

Answer 2

yields, vine density, training and pruning, grape varietals, methods of production, aging, minimum ABV, minimum must weight, and geographical boundaries

Question 3

Why does the INAO regulate?

Answer 3

Regulations are based on historical associations, quality control, and quality production. Keeps the wine from each region consistent and does not leave much room for winemakers to be creative

Created in response to widespread fraud

Question 4

European quality control methods are modeled after what French system?

Answer 4

AOC / AOP (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée / Protégée)

Question 5

What were the first two AOCs in France? And what year?

Answer 5

Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Ruilly in 1936

Question 6

T/F - The AOP system has become so bloated with the dissolution of VDQS that it
no longer represents the best of France, but more creates a basis of
production quality control. Just because a wine is AOP, does not mean it is a
good wine.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What year did the EU allow AOC wines to be labeled with AOP and for what reason?

Answer 7

2009, to standardize labeling for consumers

Question 8

What French wine classification has more leniency? Allowing more creativity in winemaking but not commanding the price of AOP wines

Answer 8

Vin de Pays (VdP), can also be labeled with the EU designation IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée)

Question 9

What is the lowest quality wine designation in France?

Answer 9

Vin de France, usually sold in jugs or labeled “vin rouge” in restaurants

Question 10

Where is the only French region that allows its AOPs to label their wines by variety?

Answer 10

Alsace

Question 11

Name all French wine classifications in order from highest to lowest

Answer 11

AOC & AOP, VDP & IGP, VDF & VDT