French Wine Law Flashcards
These wines are the global benchmark for quality
French wines
What does AOC stand for?
Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée
What is the AOC?
A detailed set of regulations to guarantee a wines integrity and protect French wine consumers
Why was the AOC system created?
To ensure authenticity of place and typicity of style
Terrior
The idea of place that is fundamental in determining quality
Who created the AOC?
The Institut National de L’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO)
When was the AOC created?
In 1935
What drove the rise in wine fraud in the early 20th century?
Chronic wine shortages caused by successive attacks of vine disease and the lasting effect of the phylloxera epidemic in the late 1800’s
Why was the INAO created?
To define and protect the quality and authenticity of specific wines and wine regions
What is the EU Standardization?
The wine quality designation called Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP)
What are the two quality categories of AOP?
Wines with geographic indication
Wines without geographic indication
What are the quality levels of Vin de France?
The least restrictive designation
No specific place of origin allowed on the label
Oak chips allowed
How much of French wine is Vin de France?
20%
What are the quality levels of IGP/Vin de Pays?
74 delimited regions Fewer restrictions than AOC/AOP Hybrids allowed Can be varietally labeled 85% of fruit must originate from stated geographic region
How much of French wine is IGP/Vin de Pays?
30%
What are the quality levels of AOC/AOP?
The highest and most exacting designation for French wine
Boundaries are precisely defined and regulated - often based on soil composition
Grape or grape varieties planted are strictly regulated
Viticultural practices are regulated - Yield, vine training, irrigation and alcohol content
Vinification technique is also regulated - aging and residual sugar content
100% of the grapes must be from the stated AOC/AOP
How much of French wine is AOC/AOP?
50%
Wine Label - What is “Domaine”?
These are the grower/producers that own the vineyards they are producing wine from. The entire process from growing the grapes to aging and bottling the wine is done by the Domaine itself
Wine Label - What are “Négociants”?
Negociants are wine merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wines for blending and bottling under their own labels.
Wine Label - What is “Clos”?
A clos designates a plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded with dry-stone walls.
Wine Label - What is “Monopole”?
Parcels of vineyard land with single ownership
Where do the grapes come from in Village wine?
100% of grapes come from in and around the village
Where do the grapes come from in Premier Cru?
100% of grapes come from a specific vineyard
Will a Grand Cru have the name of the village on the label?
No, just the vineyard
