Classified wines Controlled

Appellations d’Origines Controlées (AOC) is the highest classification for wines in Europe and France. Very strict criteria on the variety of grape and its cultivation dictate this classification and it is only awarded after analytical examinations and tasting under the vigilant eye of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO).

Why do we have the Appellations d’Origines Controlées (AOC) ?

This is simply for consumers and buyers to have an accurate reference for the quality of the product in question.

The rules dictating the AOC are very strict. Precise criteria are given on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for each stage of the winemaking process. Let’s look at an example to explain this further :

Appellations d’Origine Controlées :	Faugères.
Geographical Boundaries (towns) :	Autignac, Cabrerolles, Caussiniojouls, Faugères, Fos, Laurens and Roquessels.
Grape Varieties :	Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Lladoner pelut.
Minimum natural alcoholic volume of crop :	11.5 %
Sugar content per litre of musts :	198 grams.
Basic yield :	50 hectolitres per hectare.
Minimum density of plants :	4 000 plants per hectare.
Size :	Short with 6 to 8 spurs from 1 or 2 buds per plant.
Wine making :	Classical wine making ; preliminary crushing of whole grapes with or without removal of stems.

There are even set proportions for the size of the letters on the label of the bottle.

Above all, it is of course the taste that counts : we should not forget that before a wine can be put on sale as an appellation, it must be accepted by a jury of tasters from the INAO.

Translated by A L Mason - E-mail : annlmason@hotmail.com

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