Wine categories (France)
The wine category of French wines is mandatory on their labels . It helps the consumer to classify the wine and shows the criteria under which the wine was produced.
structure
Basically, French wines are divided into two broad categories: wines with an indication of origin and wines without an indication of origin.
- Wines with an indication of origin come from a certain area, region, municipality or location. There are two distinctions here:
- Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP): Wines with a protected designation of origin (formerly AOC: Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée , controlled designation of origin)
- Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP): Wines with a protected geographical indication (formerly Vin de Pays , country wine)
- Wines without an indication of origin are often single-varietal or branded wines. Wines in this category are named:
- Vin de France (formerly Vin de Table , table wine)
The new EU categories AOP, IGP and Vin de France have existed in France since 2009. They are the result of an EU reform to organize the wine markets together. A transitional rule applies until 2014. Until then, the old names AOC, Vin de Pays and Vin de Table may also be used. After that, only the new categories may appear on the labels. The new categorization should make it easier for consumers. For the producers, it means even more demanding requirements than before. This should increase the quality of the wines.
AOP wines (Appellation d'Origine Protégée)
The AOP wines (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) are subject to the most demanding quality regulations. They used to be called AOC wines (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). Wines in this category always come from a specific growing area - an appellation. For example, the bottle says: Appellation Bordeaux Protégée (or Contrôlée). A wine may only bear this title if it complies with the criteria of its appellation. You determine the terroir, plant density, maximum yield per hectare, and prescribe wine analyzes and tastings. Anyone who buys an AOP wine is buying tested quality and a wine with the typical characteristics of its appellation. The change from AOC to AOP 2009 has made the set of rules that wines in this category must comply with more extensive and at the same time more transparent. An independent control organization checks whether a wine complies with the specifications for the respective appellation. The controls extend over the entire production chain, from the vine to the bottle.
IGP wines (Indication Géographique Protégée)
The indication IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) - protected geographical indication - has existed since 2009. It replaces the former Vin de Pays, country wine category. (For a transitional period until 2014, this old category may still be on the labels of French wines.) IGP wines are always wines from one region, such as Pays d'Oc, Gascogne, Val de Loire. The wines must comply with an EU set of rules (examples: recommended grape varieties, maximum yield), but the winemakers have more freedom than with the AOP category. In the case of AOP wines, for example, the respective appellations prescribe the grape varieties that the winemaker is allowed to use in order to emphasize what is typical of the appellation. If a winemaker would like to try other grape varieties on his terroir, the IGP category gives him the opportunity to do so.
The change on the subject of country wine is mainly spelling. Today, consumers read Ardèche IGP where Vin de Pays de l'Ardèche (Ardèche country wine) used to be.
Vin de France (VdF)
Wines without an exact indication of origin belong to the category Vin de France (wine from France), formerly table wine . In addition to the brand, the winegrowers can also indicate the vintage and grape variety on the label. That was not allowed before. The wines are usually an assemblage of wines from different regions, often from the same grape variety. This category makes it possible to produce wines that have a consistent taste year after year. Just as consumers appreciate branded products. The EU introduced the Vin de France category primarily to cater to certain markets in which consumers choose their wines primarily by country of origin, grape variety and brand, such as in China.