AOC (Vin d'Appellation d'Origine Controlée)

At the top of the French way of classifying wine - the appellation system - are full AOC wines. The label is intended as a guarantee of origin and of quality. The wines of each AOC are supposed to have a distinct and consistent character and only an area which can produce distinctive wines should qualify for AOC status. AOC wines are subject to stricter controls than vins de pays or VDQS, although how strict varies dramatically. These may include : Permitted grape varieties, and the ratios in which they can be blended Maximum yields Vine age and planting density Harvesting and vinification techniques Level of alcohol in the finished wine