France

Within France, there is a legislated system for wines consisting of more than 450 different Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) — now also designated at the EU level as Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP). These are highly controlled and represent the highest-rated wines from France. In 2009, France updated its classification system to align with European Union regulations, introducing new official terminology while retaining the familiar old terms in common use.

The mid-tier wines, formerly known as Vins de Pays (VDP) or "Country Wines," are now officially designated Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP). These wines are subject to fewer controls than AOC/AOP wines but must still meet geographic and quality standards. The familiar Vins de Pays name remains widely used, particularly for well-established regional designations like Pays d'Oc.

At the entry level, Vins de Table (VDT) — everyday table wines with no constraints on geography, grape types or vintage — are now officially classified as Vin de France. This category has seen renewed interest in recent years as some innovative winemakers have chosen to work outside the appellation system for greater freedom in blending and labeling.The term “Cru” has a simple translation as growth. This is really referring to a special or unique wine growing area. While this area can be a single growing site, it can also be a larger region of land that includes many vineyards and wineries. Read more about the Cru designations of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

The term 'Grand Vin' is an unregulated term.

If a chateau is featured on the label, it must be the original house and it must still be standing.

Wines bottled at the estate are labeled "Mis En Bouteille Au Chateau" while wines bottled within a region are "Mis En Bouteille Au Domaine." The term "Negociant" means the grapes, or the juice, was purchased and released under a different brand.

In France, wines are mostly labeled by region, not grape type. So, if you purchase a Bordeaux, it may be made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Merlot (See French Wines).

Regions of France

Alsace
Located in northeastern France along the German border, Alsace is known for aromatic white wines — Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat — bottled in tall, slender flutes and labeled by grape variety, unlike most of France.

Beaujolais
Just south of Burgundy, Beaujolais produces light, fruity reds from the Gamay grape. It is home to ten distinct Crus and the world-famous Beaujolais Nouveau, released each November.

Bordeaux
The world's largest fine wine region, Bordeaux produces legendary red blends from Cabernet Sauvignon (Left Bank) and Merlot (Right Bank), along with celebrated dry whites and the great sweet wines of Sauternes.

Burgundy
Home to the world's greatest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, Burgundy is defined by its precise climat system — individually named vineyard plots classified across four quality tiers from Regional AOC to Grand Cru.

Champagne
Northeast of Paris, Champagne produces the world's most celebrated sparkling wines using the méthode Champenoise. Only wines from this strictly defined region may legally bear the Champagne name.

Corsica (Corse)
The island of Corsica produces distinctive wines from native grapes — most notably Nielluccio (a cousin of Sangiovese) and Vermentino — shaped by a warm Mediterranean climate and rugged mountain terrain.

Jura
A small, rugged region in eastern France between Burgundy and Switzerland, Jura is known for unique wines including the oxidative vin jaune made from Savagnin, as well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and vin de paille (straw wine).

Languedoc-Roussillon
The largest wine-producing region in France by volume, stretching along the Mediterranean coast from the Rhône delta to the Spanish border. Once known primarily for bulk wine, the region now produces an exciting range of quality reds, whites and rosés.

Loire Valley
France's longest river gives its name to a diverse wine region producing everything from the crisp Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé to the sparkling wines of Saumur and the sweet Chenin Blancs of Vouvray.

Provence
France's oldest wine region, established by the Greeks around 600 BC, Provence is synonymous with dry, elegant rosé — the most famous in the world — alongside red and white wines from sun-drenched Mediterranean vineyards.

Rhône Valley
Running south from Lyon, the Rhône Valley divides into a Northern Rhône — known for powerful Syrah-based reds and Viognier whites — and a broader Southern Rhône, home to the Grenache-based blends of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Sud Ouest
The "Southwest" is a loosely defined collection of appellations in the shadow of Bordeaux and the Pyrenees, producing distinctive wines from local grape varieties including Malbec (Cahors), Tannat (Madiran) and the rare varieties of Gascony.