French Wine Appellation

Designation of Origin (in French: Appellation) is the name given in several countries to wines traditionally produced and originating in a given region.  The quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to the geographical environment, including natural and human factors. For benefit from a “Protected Designation of Origin”, the entire process of wine making is subject to strict controls at every stage, from the vineyard to the final consumer.

History

The earliest reference to the designation of origin comes from the Bible, the “wine of Samaria,” the “wine of Caramel”, the “wine of Jezreel” or “wine Helbon” are all mentioned.  Historically, the first system of classification of vineyards in the world was introduced in Tokaj-Hegyalja in the Habsburg Empire (now Hungary) in 1730. A few years later, in 1756, the Marquis of Pombal defined the Douro Region to protect and promote the production of Port wine.
France

Appellation d’origine controlee, or AOC is a French certificate that takes into account the geographic location of the production of certain crops such as wine, cheese, butter and other agricultural products all under the supervision of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO), the dependence of the French Ministry of Agriculture.

The certificates as AOC wines are produced in defined terroirs, which are always highly regarded and meet the production standards which are very strict, defined by decree.  There are more than 400 wines from designation of origin in France. Among the COCs other classifications are Superieur, Premieres Crus, Deuxieme Crus, Crus Bourgeois and others in the region of Bordeaux or the Crus and Grands Crus of Burgundy.
The INAO was created in 1935 to manage the production of French wine and gave the first Appellation d’origine controlee in 1937, the Cotes du Rhone AOC seal was subjected to various acts of French law in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

However, long before the existence of the INAO, the champagne had control of origin and legal protection not enjoyed since the Treaty of Madrid in 1891 which stipulated that only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region, observing patterns, could be appropriately known as Champagne. This right was confirmed by the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War. The quality wines produced in specified regions (PSR) in

France are:
AOC – Appellation d’Origine Controlee: wines from a certain area from certain varieties and according to established methods.
VDQS – Vin de Qualite Superieure delimite: less restrictive than the AOC, normally used in small areas or as preparation for a possible “promotion” to COCs.
In addition to the PSR, in France there are two more categories: Vin de Pays (local wine) and Vin de Table (table wine).