How is French red wine graded?

French wines can be categorized into four levels. If we use the pyramid to indicate the price, the order from the base to the top is: daily table wine (Vin de France), regional table wine (Vin de Pays), excellent regional table wine (V.D.Q.S), and legal regional wine (A.O.C). Generally speaking, the closer to the top of the pyramid, the higher the price.

The French Parliament resolved on October 6, 2009, that with the reform of the Organization of the French Wine Industry*** (OCM) and the creation of the new category of Vin de France, which does not label grape varieties and vintages, L'ANIVIT (the French national trade association for daily table wines and local table wines) was renamed L'ANIVIN DEFRANCE (the French national Vin De Table and the "T" in L'ANIVIT will disappear. Vin De Table (VDT) will be renamed as VDF (Vin de France). After August 1, 2009, all VDPs in the EU will be renamed as IGPs. Classification: VDF, IGP, VDQS, AOC

1. Vin de France (Vin de France)

Can be made from wines of the same appellation or from wines of different appellations in France. France has a long history of winemaking and excellent blending technology, so the quality of daily table wine is stable, and it is the most common wine on the table of the French public. The minimum alcohol content of this type of wine should not be less than 8.5% or 9%, and the maximum should not exceed 15%.

2. Regional wines (Vin de Pays (IGP)

These are upgraded from the best everyday table wines. Its origin must correspond to the specific appellation indicated on the label, and it must use recognized grape varieties. Finally, it has to be approved by a specialized French tasting committee.

3. Excellent regional table wines (V.D.Q.S)

The grade is located between regional table wines and legal regional wines. The production of these wines is strictly controlled by the Institut National des Appellations d`Origine.

4. Appellation d`Origine Controlee (A.O.C)

The highest grade of French wines, the grape varieties used, the minimum alcohol content, the maximum yield, the cultivation method, the pruning, and the winemaking method, etc., are all subjected to the most stringent monitoring. Only A.O.C. wines that have passed official analysis and assaying are awarded the A.O.C. certificate. It is this very strict regulation that ensures that the A.O.C wines are always of the highest quality.

In August 2009, a reform of the French wine grades took place in order to match the European form of labeling wine grades. The following are the new grades, which will be bottled and produced from January 1, 2011 using the new grade markings:

AOC wines (Appellation d'Origine Protegee) became AOP wines (Appellation d'Origine Protegee).

VDP wines become IGP wines (Indication Geographique Protegee).

VDT wines become VDF wines (Vin de France), which are wines without IG, meaning wines with no indication of appellation on the label (vin sans Indication Geographique).

In October 2009, an ANIVIT press release reported that L'ANIVIT would be renamed L'ANIVIN DE FRANCE, and that the Vin De Table and the "T" in L'ANIVIT would disappear.

The communiqué states that L'ANIVIT (the French national association for everyday table wines and local table wines) has been renamed L'ANIVIN DE FRANCE (the French national association for the wine industry) following reforms in the French wine industry*** and the creation of a new category, Vin de France, which does not label grape varieties or vintages.

Former French wine classification system:

1. Appellation d'Origine Controlee (Appellation d'Origine Controlee), abbreviated as AOC, is the highest level of French wine

-. AOC means "Appellation d'Origine Controlee" in French.

--The grape varieties, the number of plants grown, the vinification process, and the alcohol content of the region of origin must all be certified by experts.

--Can only be made from grapes grown in the region of origin, never blended with grape juice from other places.

--AOC production accounts for about 35% of total French wine production.

-Bottle labels are labeled Appellation+Appellation+Controlee, and the smaller the appellation, the better the wine.

For example, Bordeaux (Bordeaux) can be subdivided into MEDOC sub-appellations, GRAVE sub-appellations, etc., and within the MEDOC sub-appellations there are many villages, such as MARGAUX villages, MARGAUX villages contain a few chateaux (CHATEAU in French), such as CHATEAU LASCOMBES. To understand French wine, remember the French word "chateau", which can also be translated as "winery".

The lowest level is the name of the grand appellation AOC: e.g. Appellation + Bordeaux appellation + Controlee

The second lowest level is the name of the sub-appellation AOC: e.g. Appellation + Médoc sub-appellation + Controlee

The higher level is the village AOC: e.g. Appellation + Margaux village AOC: e.g. Appellation + Margaux village AOC: e.g. Appellation + Margaux. +MARGAUX village +Controlee

The highest level is the name of the chateau AOC: e.g. Appellation+CHATEAU LASCOMBES chateau +Controlee

2. Vin Delimites de Qualite Superieure (excellent regional table wine). Vin Delimites de Qualite Superieure, or VDQS for short

-is the level through which ordinary regional wines must make the transition to AOC status. If the VDQS is good, the wine will be promoted to AOC.

--Produces only 2% of France's total wine production.

--Bottle labels are labeled Appellation+Appellation+Qualite Superieure.

3. VIN DE PAYS (Regional Table Wine, i.e., Wine of Country)

--The best of the everyday wines are upgraded to regional wines

--Regional wines can be labeled with an appellation.

--May be blended with grape juice from grapes within the labeled appellation, but only from grapes within that appellation.

--Production accounts for about 15% of total French wine production.

--Bottle labels are labeled Vin de Pays + the name of the appellation

--The vast majority of France's regional table wines come from the southern Mediterranean coast.

4, VIN DE TABLE (Wine of the table)

--It is the lowest-grade wine for daily drinking.

-Can be blended from grape juice of different regions, if the grape juice is limited to the various regions of France, it can be called French daily table wine.

--No grape juice from countries outside of Europe

--Production accounts for about 38% of total French wine production.

--Bottle labels are labeled Vin de Table

Reasons for the reform include:

1. Increasing competition from producers in New World countries.

2. The current classification of French wines is too complex (French wines are well known for their high-end product positioning, but it's often indescribable that only one in two consumers knows the difference between a bottle of VDP wine and a bottle of AOC wine).

3. Complex markings on existing wine labels (causing instability in the consumer base; causing exported wines to be less easily recognized.)

4. The lack of French branded wines in the export market in the face of increasingly strong foreign wine brands.

Objectives of the reform:

1. Increase supply to meet consumer demand and needs.

2. To make product labeling clearer and to raise the image of European wines (including French wines) on the world market.

3. Establish a clear, simple and effective system of viticulture and winemaking to achieve a balance between supply and demand.

4. To make European wines more competitive with New World wines.