Registered Designation of Origin (AOC)
Date: Saturday, February 11 @ 08:55:56 MST
Topic: Wine classifications AOC - Grand Crus...
The French designation Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée , (AOC), is a certification granted to certain French wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products by a government bureau known as the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO).
Under French law, it is illegal to manufacture and sell a product under one of the AOC-controlled names if it does not comply with the criteria of the AOC.
The origins of AOC date back to the 15th century, when Roquefort was regulated by a parliamentary decree.
The first modern law was set on May 6, 1919 when the Law for the Protection of the Place of Origin was passed, specifying the region and commune that a given product must be manufactured in, and has been revised on many occasions since then.
On July 30, 1935, the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), a branch of the French Ministry of Agriculture, was created to manage the administration of the process for wines.
The AOC seal was created and mandated by French laws in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. On July 2, 1990, the scope of work of the INAO was extended beyond wines to cover other agricultural products.
AOC wines are, together with the higher-quality vins délimités de qualité supérieure (VDSQ) the categories in which French wines are classified under European legislation on quality wines produced in specified regions (PSR quality wines), known in French as vins de qualité produits dans des régions déterminées - VQPRD.
These wines are subject to controls established by the producers themselves, under the supervision of the public authorities, stipulating the growing area, vine variety and wine-growing methods, yields, wine-making methods and analytical criteria. There may also be an annual tasting by an approved taster, attesting that the wines from the various vineyards have the requisite quality.
AOC wines are produced from one or more vine varieties, as laid down in the regulations.
But with the exception of Alsace, the name of the vine variety or varieties must not appear on the label.
The AOC system is central to the French viticulture system which is clearly the envy of many other countries. It is based on long practical experience which, over the centuries, has enabled the identification of the best areas for wine-growing and the varieties most suited to them.
Countries with a more recent wine industry have not taken the time to do such thorough and careful work and consequently prefer to identify their wine solely by vine variety.
Adoption of the AOC concept was found necessary in the early part of the twentieth century in the wake of catastrophes for wine-growers (mildew, Phylloxera) and economic crises.
These situations led to fraudulent practices of which the wine-producers were the first victims. They thus banded together to defend their common heritage. Setting up such a system proved difficult.
The success of the AOC system is, however, evident, since there are about 350 AOCs covering the various vineyards of France.
The National Institute for the Designation of Origin (INAO - Institut national des appellations d'origine) is responsible for approving production conditions and ensuring compliance with the regulations.
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