Next to Bordeaux, the Southwest is an enormous wine-producing region, especially noted for Bergerac and Cahors. Amazingly, its vineyards, which were blighted in the 19th century, bloom again with rediscovered local varietals.
In France, wines are divided into table wines ("Vins de Table"), country wines ("Vins de Pays") and Appellation Controlled Wines (AOC - which stands for "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée").
Table wine (Vin de Table) is the everyday drinking wine of the French. It is a blend of grapes from various wine-producing regions, and is ready to be consumed when purchased. Identified by a brand name, a Vin de Table is blended carefully to maintain a consistent quality from year to year.
Country wine (Vin de Pays) More sophisticated than table wine, Country wine brings the scenic delights, full flavors and romance of the French countryside to your table. Country wines are produced from the grapes of one region only, and are governed by regulations that control production and accreditation.
Appellation Controlled Wines (AOC) Considered to be the highest quality wine, AOC wine is subject to rigorous controls governing every aspect of winemaking, including the size of the vineyard, production levels and where grapes may be grown. Most appellations are named for the place where they are grown, which may be a region (like Bordeaux or Burgundy), a district within the region, or even a single château.
The more specific the appellation, the more restrictive the controls - and the more prestigious the wine.
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