Les appellations : un gage de qualité et d'origine

Appellations: a guarantee of quality and origin

Each bottle of wine bears a label indicating its geographical origin, thus guaranteeing its origin and compliance with strict production regulations. This system, which originated in France in the early 20th century, was adopted by several countries and harmonized by the European Union in 2009. Today, European wines are classified into two broad categories, each subject to specific production and labeling regulations. While each country retains certain traditional labels, all follow a common framework.

THE TWO MAIN CATEGORIES: AOP AND IGP

Wines are divided into three classification levels:

  1. Wines without geographical indication – In France, they carry the label Vin de France.
  2. Wines with geographical indication – They guarantee a link with their territory of origin and are divided into two subcategories:
    • PGI (Protected Geographical Indication): Replacing the old Vin de Pays designation, PGIs cover larger production areas (regional, departmental or local) and offer a certain flexibility in the choice of grape varieties and production techniques.
    • AOP (Protected Designation of Origin): Heir to the AOC (Controlled Designation of Origin), this classification imposes stricter rules, defined by specifications specific to each designation (grape varieties, yields, production methods, etc.).

There are nearly 440 PGI and AOP designations, which structure wine production. Introduced in the 1930s, PDOs now represent nearly 50% of total production.

CRITERIA DEFINING A CALL

A designation is based on several key elements:

  1. The geographical area: It can extend from a small town to several tens of thousands of hectares.
  2. Grape varieties: Each appellation imposes a precise list of authorized grape varieties, whether for single-varietal wines or blends.
  3. Yield: Expressed in hectoliters per hectare (hl/ha), it is strictly limited according to the appellation.
  4. Production techniques: These govern planting density, vine pruning, harvesting methods, chaptalization, as well as the processes of wine production and marketing.

WINES OF FRANCE

Introduced in 2009, Vins de France replaced the old Vins de Table. Although they do not benefit from a geographical indication, they offer producers more flexibility and can mention the vintage and grape variety on the label.

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