French Wine Label Information

France is the largest producer of fine wine in the world. Each region within the country is unique, not only in their 'terroir' or growing conditions but also because of the styles of the wine they produce. Often this uniqueness is also reflected on the French wine labels as every region enforce their own set of rules that are within the framework of the larger French and European Union wine laws. Please have a look at the individual wine label information for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne.

To understand a French wine label, it is important to have some basic knowledge of the classification system as well as the terms that are mostly used on the labels.

French Wine Classification

• Appellation d'Origin Protegée (AOP), formerly AOC (Appellation d'Origin Controlée): An AOP classification denotes the highest quality and acts as a guarantee that a wine has been produced in a designated area in accordance with local laws and regulations. Includes all the Grand and Premier Cru wines.
• Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS): Means 'Delimited Wine of Superior Quality). This level below AOP is seen as a stepping stone for regions wishing to achieve the AOP status. VDQS wines represent a tiny proportion of the total French production so are not seen on wine labels often.
• Indication Geographique Protegée (IGP), formerly VDP (Vin de Pays): Means 'Country Wine'. This classification below VDQS but above 'vin de table', indicates the geographic designation and may indicate the grape varieties and the vintage on the label.
• Vin de Table (VdT): The lowest category of French wine meaning 'Table Wine'. A VdT can be made anywhere in France and are least regulated. The wine label on a VdT will not show the region, vintage or the grape variety.

French Wine Label Terms

Blanc	White
Brut	Dry
Cave	Wine Cellar
Château	An estate. Literally a 'castle'
Coopérative	A cooperative or more like a syndicate of wine growers
Côte/Coteaux	Slope of a hill/Hillsides
Crémant	A style of sparkling wine other than Champagne
Cru	Literally 'growth'. Denotes status of a vineyard
Cru Classé	Classified vineyard
Demi-sec	Medium dry
Domaine	Estate
Doux	Sweet
Grand cru	Literally 'great growth'. Highest quality wines
Méthode Traditionnelle	Traditional method of sparkling wine-making, same as used for Champagne
Mise en Bouteille au Château/Domaine/à la propriété	Estate bottled. Sometimes MC in short for Bordeaux wines
Négociant	A merchant who buys grapes, juice or wine from growers and sells the wines under its own label
Premier Cru	First growth
Propriétaire	Estate or vineyard owner
Récoltant	A grower. Sometimes also means a person who harvests the grapes
Récolte	Harvest or vintage
Rouge	Red
Sélection de Grains Nobles	A sweet style of wine made in Alsace form Botrytis affected grapes
Supérieur	A wine higher alcohol content
Vendange Tardive	Late harvest. A style of wine form Alsace
Vieilles Vignes	Old Vines
Vigneron/Viticulteur	Vine grower/grape grower
Vignoble	Vineyard
Vin	Wine

You may also be interested in the Bordeaux Classification System.

Please also have a look at the wine label information for the European Union, Germany, Italy, USA, Australia or a general information regarding wine labels.

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