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Wine Categories in France
Wines in France are categorized under the following wine grades:
- Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
Suggested translation: "regulated wine of origin"
Those wines are of higher quality. They are strictly ruled. Those rules cover methods of growing and producing, localization, grape-variety, minimum contents of alcohol...
All those wines are analysed and tasted. This very strict legislation guarantees an excellent quality of AOC wines.
The word "Origine" is often replaced by the name of the place of origin of the wine "Appellation Beaujolais controlée".
Appellation d'Origine Vin De Qualité Supérieure
(AOVDQS)
Suggested translation: "higher quality wine of origin"
In the hierarchy of wines, those come just after the AOC. They are also strictly controlled by the "Institut National des Appellations d'Origine" (INAO).
Rules apply to the zone of production, grape-variety, minimum alcohol, methods of growing and producing.
Vin de Pays
Suggested translation: "country wine"
These wines contain a 100% of a single grape-variety, approved of by a "Conseil Interprofessionnel" (joint committee of professionals) grown in a strictly limited zone. All these wines are tested to be accepted as "Vin de Pays".
Vin de Table
Suggested translation: "table wine "
"Vin de Table" is the every day wine of France. It represents about 70% of French production. It must be from 8,5 to 15 ° proof.