french wine classification system

French Wines are classified using Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), the former being strict and with more tightly defined regulations. Terroir does mean vineyard geology, but it can also mean: the tree that shades a certain parcel of vines. This means that whatever village, commune or region they come from, that’s how they get their name. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Standing for Country Wine or more accurately Wine of the Land. Regal in form, fashion, and reputation, this renown wine region can throw some complicated classification systems and tricky appellations on the bottle, but keep in If it's any consolation, France also enforces AOC regulations on potatoes, butter, and cheese, so it's not just wine that has to suffer through strict adherence to complex classifications. Not to be confused with Vin de Pays, all the classification tells you is that the grapes were grown and made into wine in France. These less expensive wines from Bordeaux are often termed "petit chateau.". Pomerol is Bordeaux's smallest wine-growing region, with production just over 5 million bottles. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. “The very highest classification of French wine. The freedom VDP producers have has allowed them to react to competition from New World producers, they are the driving force in increasing export sales. It’s important to understand that there are appellations within appellations: think of it like a Russian nesting doll. Wine labels will simply indicate "Appellation Pomerol Controlée." In 2012, France began the process of adopting the new European Union classification system of wine quality. Historically, the more specific the location is, the higher the rank and quality! What if you make wine outside of those defined areas? About 20% of production falls into this category and quality varies significantly. Check out my guide to creating your own itinerary. I’m explaining everything in the following video. I think there’s lots of great value to be found in both of these “bottom tier” classifications! Unlike AOC wines, it shows the grape varieties on the bottle. Learn about the 10 Crus of Beaujolais here. The wine classifications are just another piece of the puzzle, they are not mission-critical to knowing and enjoying Bordeaux wines. Come to Lyon and do one of my Lyon Wine Tastings! Case in point, the terms "left bank" and "right bank" are used liberally to refer to which side of the river, Gironde, and its tributaries the Garonne and Dordogne, the grapes are grown. Portugal is a place famed for sunshine and beach holidays, making it one of the …, French Wine Classification – A Basic Overview, The Vino Club for everyone interested in wine and other beverages, 10 Places In London To Visit If You’re A Wine Fanatic. Showcasing the very best French wines, the classification ranked sixty top … The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. French wine has 3 primary classification levels : the AOP (or AOC) – the famous appellations, then the IGP or “Vin de Pays” and then the “Vin de France”. If you’re someone who loves Pinot Noir or Syrah, you probably won’t see your favorite grapes on French wine labels. Terroir is a French word that has been adopted throughout the global wine industry. Terrior, a French word with no direct English equivalent sums up these factors and is an integral part of the French Wine Classification system. Indication d’Origine Protégée (IGP) are bigger regions than the broadest AOC regions and have looser restrictions. Terrior, a French word with no direct English equivalent sums up these factors and is an integral part of the French Wine Classification system. Creating great tasting cocktails at home is easy once you have some recipes. Outside of AOCs, there are two other broad classifications. To ensure wines of high quality, look for these; Grand Cru, this is the highest French Wine Classification, it indicates where it is made and/or by which chateau. To the Bordelais knowing where the grapes were grown is more important than knowing what grapes were grown. So, how are these boundaries defined? There are five First Growths and they include the estates of Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Haut-Brion and more recently (1973) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. The French System was created in the begining of the 20th century, in order to help consumers know what they drink. They can be very large and cover an entire region or they can be very small and no more than a single vineyard. While the Bordeaux wine classification systems can get pretty complicated at first glance, they start to spiral into some semblance of sanity with the Cru Bourgeois Classification, a single-tier classification. Beautiful view over Cornas in the Northern Rhône. These classifications began in the 1950s and the chateaus are reviewed every decade. Keep in mind that Classified Growths only represent about 3 percent of Bordeaux's wine market, impacting the image of Bordeaux in mighty ways, but not necessarily a true representation of the tasty, table typical Bordeaux wines that the Bordelais themselves consume on a daily basis. At the base is VDF, followed by IGP, then there’s regional AOCs, topped with commune AOCs, with defined Cru AOCs at the top depending upon the region. As for tiers of quality, to make things fun for everyone, each region has its own classification system! Within the Côtes du Rhône lie smaller communes, which are also appellations, such as Gigondas. This category accounts for about 30% of production of French wines and quality varies significantly. The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines that were to be on display for visitors from around the world. While a wine's flavour can be quite complex, its origins shouldn't be. French Wines are classified using Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), the former being strict and with more tightly defined regulations. The French System was created in the begining of the 20th century, in order to help consumers know what they drink. Want to learn more about wine? These wines can be made from grapes grown anywhere in France and, thus, neither the appellation nor the region is specified on the label. Click here to learn more about the major French wine regions. The French wine classification itself is called Appellation d’origine Protégée (AOP) which in English, means Protected Designation of Origin. The Classification of 1855 begins with the First Growths, labeled "Premier Cru," and represents the crème de la crème in French red wines. Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée is the strictest category. or sub-region. Knowing this classification system will help you when looking to buy wine. Burgundy, Bordeaux etc.) Quality varies widely, some very enjoyable, if you find one, let us know! In this article, I’m sharing with you some information regarding the French Wine Classification System. AOC. Perhaps the best place to begin is the system that many modern wine governances are modeled after: France’s Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC). Bordeaux's stature has been built on the famous names of Margaux, Latour, Lafite-Rothschild, Haut-Brion, and Mouton-Rothschild, these high-end, heavy-hitting wines referred to as First Growths have maintained a high-dollar, high-profile following for decades. First, you need to know that the information displayed on French wine labels is controlled by a wine classification system, that determines the conditions of production: allowed grapes, viticulture, minimum expected quality…  Italy, Spain, or Portugal have similar regulations. This is kind of the case, if you only engage in the upper levels, but is misleading when it comes to the base of the pyramid. Like a breath of fresh air, the Bordeaux district of Pomerol has avoided the complicated classification process. Knowing this classification system will help you when looking to buy wine. Terroir is a very broad idea composed of the very specific elements that create a complete and unique environment. It is not in itself, a guarantee of quality, although some may dispute this, it varies with the AOC. Vin de France. What do French wine labels mean? Ultimately, this brings us to a sort of classification pyramid. The French system of designating and controlling the names of wines (as well as spirits and certain foodstuff) by their geographical origin is much admired and has been copied by many countries. Terroir is about the vineyard and its grapes, and is the foundational idea behind organizing wine classifications on geographical origin. What is that label telling you? Unfortunately, French wine labels almost never list their grape variety. About 50% of French wines fall into this category. How do classification systems work? It relates to where the wine is made and often with what grapes and method. This wine classification system was initiated in 1953, revised in 1959, and spotlights 16 chateaus for their acclaimed reds and remarkable white wines. So now we understand appellations and terroir, how does that translate to an actual label? It is less controlled than AOC, giving winemakers more freedom to use different grapes and methods. While it would be nice and easy to box up the right bank as "Merlot" and left bank as "Cab," Bordeaux is always a blend and delicious exceptions abound on both banks. The Medoc AOCs of Pauillac, Margaux, Pessac-Leognan, St. Julien, St. Estephe and Haut-Medoc are all represented by these Grand Cru Classé chateaus. A belief system predisposed to the notion that vineyards adjacent to each other are so different as to demand separate classifications. This will allow you to have a better understanding about what you read on French wine labels.So let’s be a bit technical (but not too much)! Often it gets simplified to just refer to the soil, but terroir is a small word with a much bigger meaning. Mostly they are used in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Alsace but they mean different things in each. Appellation is the word for the legally defined geographical area that identifies the origin of a wine. The Saint-Emilion Classification covers two AOC classifications, one for Saint-Emilion and the other for Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (which has been subdivided further into The Grand Cru Classe and Premier Grand Cru Classé). Part of understanding a country’s wine is understanding how the country controls (and therefore labels) its wine production. There are rules to winemaking, and to be considered “Bordeaux” or “Sancerre,” the AOC requires that producers follow only certain rules of winemaking. Freelance writer and wine expert, author of ""Idiots Guides: Wine""; as well as several magazine and online articles. Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur are the generic wines of Bordeaux and make up about 50 percent of the wines from the region. The wines of Bordeaux are not labeled and sold by varietal but by terroir. French wine has 3 primary classification levels : the AOP (or AOC) – the famous appellations, then the IGP or “Vin de Pays” and then the “Vin de France”.

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