French Wine Laws

The French Wine Laws

The production of wine in France is tightly controlled by two organisations. The Instituit National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO). This body succeeded the Comite' National des Appellations d'Origine after World War II and controls the hierachy of French quality wines. The other is the Service de Repression des Fraudes, which is responsible for seeing that the very complicated laws on wine production are carried out. On the French domestic market, every bottle carries a capsule conge', or capsule with the government seal on it showing that the relevant tax has been paid. It also shows the wine's quality status.

France has two grades of QWPSR;

Appellation Controlee and Vin Delimite de Qualite Superieure,

and two of Table Wine;

Vin de Pays and Vin de Table.

Quality Wine

Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AC or AOC)

This is the highest level that a French wine can attain. Though the requirements may vary widely from one region to another, they are the most tightly defined and the following point will always feature.