French Wine Law

Question 1

These wines are the global benchmark for quality

Answer 1

French wines

Question 2

What does AOC stand for?

Answer 2

Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée

Question 3

What is the AOC?

Answer 3

A detailed set of regulations to guarantee a wines integrity and protect French wine consumers

Question 4

Why was the AOC system created?

Answer 4

To ensure authenticity of place and typicity of style

Question 5

Terrior

Answer 5

The idea of place that is fundamental in determining quality

Question 6

Who created the AOC?

Answer 6

The Institut National de L’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO)

Question 7

When was the AOC created?

Answer 7

In 1935

Question 8

What drove the rise in wine fraud in the early 20th century?

Answer 8

Chronic wine shortages caused by successive attacks of vine disease and the lasting effect of the phylloxera epidemic in the late 1800’s

Question 9

Why was the INAO created?

Answer 9

To define and protect the quality and authenticity of specific wines and wine regions

Question 10

What is the EU Standardization?

Answer 10

The wine quality designation called Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP)

Question 11

What are the two quality categories of AOP?

Answer 11

Wines with geographic indication

Wines without geographic indication

Question 12

What are the quality levels of Vin de France?

Answer 12

The least restrictive designation
No specific place of origin allowed on the label
Oak chips allowed

Question 13

How much of French wine is Vin de France?

Answer 13

20%

Question 14

What are the quality levels of IGP/Vin de Pays?

Answer 14

74 delimited regions
Fewer restrictions than AOC/AOP
Hybrids allowed
Can be varietally labeled
85% of fruit must originate from stated geographic region

Question 15

How much of French wine is IGP/Vin de Pays?

Answer 15

30%

Question 16

What are the quality levels of AOC/AOP?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

How much of French wine is AOC/AOP?

Answer 17

50%

Question 18

Wine Label - What is “Domaine”?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Wine Label - What are “Négociants”?

Answer 19

Negociants are wine merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wines for blending and bottling under their own labels.

Question 20

Wine Label - What is “Clos”?

Answer 20

A clos designates a plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded with dry-stone walls.

Question 21

Wine Label - What is “Monopole”?

Answer 21

Parcels of vineyard land with single ownership

Question 22

Where do the grapes come from in Village wine?

Answer 22

100% of grapes come from in and around the village

Question 23

Where do the grapes come from in Premier Cru?

Answer 23

100% of grapes come from a specific vineyard

Question 24

Will a Grand Cru have the name of the village on the label?

Answer 24

No, just the vineyard