Guide to Wine Classification in France

Wine classification in France is far from arbitrary or subject to personal opinion, it is a governed system. Considering there are approximately 9 billion bottles of wine produced per year in France, the wine industry is not only big business, it's one that is taken very seriously.

There are four main classifications of wine in France, which is first way wines are categorized. Wines in France are also categorized by region and vintage. Each winery may further classify its own wines according to quality.

Wine Classification in France

The first division of wines in France is into classes, as regulated by the European Union. French wines are either classified as table wines ("Vins de Table") or region-specific wines of quality ("Vlns de Qualité Prodults dans une Région Déterminée"). Each of these classes is divided into two grades.

Table Wines

There are two classifications of table wines in the French wine classification system, French Table Wines ("Vins de Table") and French Regional Wine ("Vins de Pays.")

"Vins de Table"

The "Vins de Table" or French Table Wines are at the lowest end of the French wine classification system. These are common wines available throughout France, and sold in stores. "Vins de Table" are either made with only French grapes, or with a blend of grapes from vineyards in variety of European Union countries.

You can distinguish a French-only "Vins de Table" from a wine containing grapes from outside of France, by the "Vin de Table Francais" designation on the bottle, which indicates a wine made with only French grapes. However, you will not find the wine region listed on the label of a "Vins de Table."

A typical "Vins de Table" contains a range of 8.5% to 15% alcohol by volume. Tip: For a smoother "Vins de Table," opt for a wine with a higher percentage of alcohol.

"Vins de Pays"

The other group of table wines are the the "Vins de Pays," or French Regional Wines, on the next rung of the quality scale. These French wines are labeled with their geographic origin, which could include The Loire Valley, Midi-Pyrenees or Eastern France.

"Vins de Pays" must naturally contain at least 9-10 percent of alcohol by volume, depending on the region. The Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins (ONIVINS) tastes, tests and approves the "Vins de Pays." You can identify "Vins de Pays" wines by the inclusion of the grape variety on the label, or name of the originating region.

"Vins de Qualité Prodults dans une Région Déterminée" (VQPRD)

The "Vins de Qualité Prodults dans une Région Déterminée," (VQPRD) wines considered "quality wines produced in a specific region." The VQPRD contains the two wine classifications in France.

"Appellation d'Origine Vin De Qualité Supérieure (AO VDQS)"

Next up from the "Vins de Pays" are the "AO VDQS, or wines of superior quality from specific regions. These wines are not as marketable as the lower quality "Vins de Pays" which offer consumers value, or as popular as the higher end "Appellation Contrôlée" (AOC) wines.

"Appellation Contrôlée" (AOC)

The highest classification of French wine is "Appellation Contrôlée" (AOC). Wines classified as AOC tend to be the most expensive French wines, and produced under the greatest number of controls in regards to grape variety, vine density and how it was made.

Sources

Vins de Pays, http://www.vins-de-pays.info/index.php?ID_page=106#
How to understand wine labels, http://www.hub-uk.com/aboutwine/howto08.htm
Classification of Wine in France, http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/classif.htm

How to know a wine classification by its "appellation"http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/french-food/french-wine/french_wine_classification.htm