WineCast: French Wine Classification System

Introduction

• The episode focuses on the French system for classifying wine.
• Recommended to watch prior episodes on the EU Wine Quality Framework and Italian wine classification for better understanding.

Overview of French Wine Classification

• French system aligns with the EU framework with three tiers:
  • Top tier: Highly regulated, for quality wines.
  • Middle tier: Less regulated.
  • Bottom tier: For inexpensive bulk wine production.
• French classification is among the oldest formal systems in the modern world.

Historical Context

• The early 20th century was challenging due to diseases like powdery mildew, downy mildew, and phylloxera.
• Phylloxera drastically reduced French wine production.
• World War I further devastated wine regions, such as Champagne.
• Adulteration and fraud due to wine shortages.

Development of the French Appellation System

• Movement began to legally guarantee wine origins.
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape played a key role in developing an appellation system.
• Baron Pierre Leroy de Bois-Sommarier helped secure an appellation with strict quality rules.
• 1926: Chateauneuf received an appellation with mandatory best practices.

Establishment of National Appellation System

• 1935: Introduction of nationwide system, AOCs (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée).
• Overseen by INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine).
• AOCs are equivalent to EU's PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).
• Post-2009: Transition to AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) but synonymous with AOC.

Structure of AOCs

• Larger regional AOCs encompass smaller district and village AOCs.
• Standards become stricter with smaller AOCs.
• Example: Bordeaux AOC with regional, district (Haute-Médoc), and communal (Moulin Zon Médoc) layers.
• Specific rules for each AOC regarding wine types (e.g., only dry red wines in Haute-Médoc).

IGP Tier

• Second tier aligning with EU's PGI (Protected Geographical Indication).
• IGPs introduced formally in 1979.
• Less regulated than AOCs to promote non-traditional and experimental wines.
• Six regional IGPs in France, e.g., Comté de Tolosson, Val de Loire.
• Some regions like Champagne and Burgundy don’t have IGPs.

Vann Tier

• Lowest tier, previously called "Vann de Taube" or table wine.
• Few regulations apart from health and safety.
• Vann de France classification if all grapes are from France.

Historical Note

• "Vin Delimité de Calité Supérieur" (VDQS) was a former tier between IGP and AOC, eliminated in 2011.

Conclusion

• Understanding the French wine classification system helps relate to EU and other countries.
• Encouragement to view related visual content in the EU classification episode.

Note: Always enjoy wine responsibly.