According to the French wine laws, there are four possible ranks or categories which a wine can fall into. You can determine the ranking for a French wine by looking on the label for the designation that it has. The four designated tiers are as follows, from the highest rank to the lowest:

• Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) or shortened to Appellation Controlee (AC):
  This is France’s highest rank for wine. On the label the place of origin will usually appear between the two French words, e.g. Appellation Bordeaux Controlee.
• Vin Delimite de Qualite Superieure (VDQS):
  This is the smallest category for ranking wines, and is usually a temporary rank for wines that can potentially move up to the highest category. On the label the term will appear directly below the name of the wine.
• Vin de Pays:
  This category has the meaning of being a country wine. On the label this term is always followed by a place of origin, such as Vin de Pays Pommard. This indicates where the grapes were grown. This category is somewhat similar to the regions that make up the American Viticulture Areas.
• Vin de Table:
  The grapes in this category can come from anywhere in France, and there are very few regulations for this ranking. By law these wines cannot indicate a grape variety or vintage. The wines that fall into this category are usually consumed locally.

The wine ranking system that France has instituted is now the model for the European Union wine laws. The term Superieur or Superieure may also be added  to the names of some general AOC wines. This designation basically requires a higher minimum alcohol level, usually one point higher than the basic designation.

Unless you are an expert in French geography, understanding a French wine label can be difficult. Hopefully some of the information that I have blogged about in the last three blogs will be a help to you in choosing a bottle of French wine.

Jon

As I mentioned in my previous blog, understanding the wines from France can be difficult. There are several things that one needs to know in understanding French wines:

• The majority of French wines are named after geographical places, not the grape variety in which they are made. Thus, when you talk about French wines and the regions they come from, most of the time they will have the same name, i.e. Bordeaux from Bordeaux, Chablis from Chablis, etc.
• The French wine system is based on a ranking system. Thus, some wines from geographical regions have a higher rank than other wines from other regions.
• Generally speaking, the more defined an area where a wine is named and produced, will have a higher ranking than other wines. For example, if a wine coming from Burgundy had not just that region, but also a sub-region (Cote-de-Beaune), a district (Cote-de-Beaune- Villages), a town (Meursault), and a specific vineyard (Le Montrachet), that wine will be ranked higher than a wine that is not as well defined.
• Keep in mind, that just because a French wine has a higher ranking than another wine is not an indication that the wine in the bottle will be superior. It should be superior, but that may not always be the case.

In my next blog I will go into detail regarding the ranking system that the French have incorporated for their wines. Until then, Cheers!

Jon

France has been the standard bearer throughout the world for its wine. After all, they have been producing great wine for millenia, even before the Romans conquered Gaul. Also, they have great grapes for making wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are all indigenous to France. But understanding what’s in a bottle of French wine can be confusing, to say the least. France’s system of defining their wine is based on regions, that is, the majority of French wines are named after places, and not grape varieties. This is where the confusion comes into play for most people not familiar with the major wine regions of France, and the specific grape varieties grown in those regions. Most of us have heard of the major wine regions of France, such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, but what are the grape varieties grown there? I want to help take the mystery out of purchasing and drinking French wine. Below is a list of France’s major wine regions, and the grape varieties associated with each:

Bordeaux
   Red Bordeaux- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec (red)
   White Bordeaux- Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle (white)

Burgundy
   Red Burgundy- Pinot Noir (red)
   White Burgundy – Chardonnay (white)
   Beaujolaise – Gamay (red)
   Chablis - Chardonnay (white)

Rhone
   Hermitage- Syrah (red)
   Cote-Rotie- Syrah, Viognier (red)
   Chateauneuf-du-Pape- Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah (red)
   Cotes du Rhone- Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah (red)
   Condrieu - Viognier (white)

Loire
   Sancerre; Pouilly Fume- Sauvignon Blanc (white)
   Vouvray- Chenin Blanc (white)
   Muscadet - Muscadet (white)

Alsace
   Riesling – Riesling (white)
   Gewurztraminer – Gewurztraminer (white)
   Tokay (Pinot Gris)- Pinot Gris (white)
   Pinot Blanc- Pinot Blanc (white)

Hopefully this will help you make the right choices the next time you desire to drink a French wine.

Jon