Wine Law

Question 1

What is the Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC)?

Answer 1

Established in in France and adopted by EU - Appellation d’Origine Protegee (AOP).

Ensures authenticity of place and typicity of style, and supposedly higher quality standard.

Wines with and without geographic origin.

Question 2

What is the French Paradigm?

Answer 2

Governing model of wine industry in France, later adopted by Italy and EU.

Created by Institut national de l’orgine et de la qualite (INAO) in 1935 to combat fraud in the wine industry.

Question 3

Define French Quality Levels.

Answer 3

Vin de France (20% of French wine)
Least restrictive, high yields, no specific place of origin, variety/ vintage allowed on label, oak chips allowed, typically no exports, table wine in France

IGP/ Vin de Pays (30%)
Fewer restrictions than AOC/ AOP, hybrids allowed, 85% of grapes from geographic region, 74 delimited regions

AOP / AOC (50%)
Most restrictive, boundaries regulated, MANY rules in vineyard and winery, 100% of grapes from stated AOC

Question 4

What are some of the regulations on AOC/ AOP wine?

Answer 4

Viticultural:
Grape variety planted and where, yield per hectare, type of vine training used, irrigation if permitted at all
Vinification:
Degree of alcohol min and max, aging requirements, residual sugar allowance, 100% of grapes from stated AOC/ AOP