France

Alsace AOC

French AOC appellation for predominantly white wines produced in the Alsace region of northeastern France. Known for aromatic varieties, varietal labeling tradition, and 51 Grand Cru vineyards.

Bandol AOC

French AOC appellation in Provence for red, rosé, and white wines. The benchmark appellation for Mourvèdre, requiring minimum 50% of the variety and 18 months oak aging for red wines.

Beaujolais

French wine region south of Burgundy producing vibrant, fruit-driven wines from Gamay on granite and clay soils, ranging from simple Nouveau to age-worthy Crus

Bordeaux AOC

French regional AOC appellation covering red, white (dry and sweet), rosé, and sparkling wines produced throughout the Bordeaux wine region of southwestern France. The foundational appellation for the world's largest fine wine region.

Bourgogne AOC

French regional AOC appellation covering red, white, and rosé wines produced throughout the Burgundy wine region. The foundational appellation for the Burgundy hierarchy system.

Bourgueil AOC

Cahors

Historic French appellation in the Lot Valley producing distinctive, age-worthy red wines from Malbec (locally called Côt or Auxerrois)

Chablis AOC

French AOC appellation for white wine produced exclusively from Chardonnay in the Chablis district of northern Burgundy. Known for mineral, unoaked style from Kimmeridgian limestone soils.

Champagne AOC

French AOC appellation for sparkling wine produced exclusively in the Champagne region using traditional method (méthode champenoise). The world's most recognized sparkling wine appellation with strict production requirements.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC

French AOC appellation in the Southern Rhône Valley for red and white wines. Famous for Grenache-dominant red blends, galets roulés terroir, and historically the first AOC to establish strict production rules (1936).

Chinon AOC

Condrieu AOC

Côte-Rôtie AOC

Côtes de Provence AOC

Côtes du Rhône AOC / Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC

France's second-largest AOC spanning the Rhône Valley from Vienne to Avignon; produces red, white, and rosé wines with Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre blends dominant; gateway to premium Crus.

Crozes-Hermitage AOC

French PIWI Authorization

Overview of France's evolving regulations permitting PIWI (fungus-resistant) grape varieties in quality wine production, from INRA releases to AOC experimentation

Gevrey-Chambertin AOC

Gigondas AOC

Hermitage AOC

Prestigious Northern Rhône appellation producing powerful, age-worthy red wines from Syrah and distinctive white wines from Marsanne and Roussanne; one of France's most celebrated wine regions.

Madiran

Southwest France's powerful red wine appellation producing intensely tannic, age-worthy wines from Tannat, pioneering micro-oxygenation techniques

Margaux AOC

Meursault AOC

Muscadet AOC / Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC

Loire Valley appellation producing crisp, mineral white wines from Melon de Bourgogne; sur lie aging technique adds complexity to this classic seafood wine.

Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC

Pauillac

Bordeaux's most prestigious communal appellation, home to three First Growths and producing powerful, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines

Pessac-Léognan AOC

Bordeaux's premier appellation for both red and white Graves wines, home to all classified Graves estates; distinctive gravelly terroir produces structured reds and age-worthy barrel-fermented whites.

Pomerol AOC

Pouilly-Fumé AOC

Prestigious Loire Valley appellation producing minerally, flinty Sauvignon Blanc exclusively; the 'fumé' reference derives from the gunflint character from Kimmeridgian limestone and flint soils.

Puligny-Montrachet AOC

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC

French AOC appellation for red wine produced in the Saint-Émilion area of Bordeaux's Right Bank, featuring a unique classification system updated approximately every 10 years. Merlot-dominant blends from limestone and clay soils.

Saint-Joseph AOC

Saint-Julien AOC

Sancerre

Benchmark Loire Valley appellation producing world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc and distinctive Pinot Noir from diverse terroirs including flint, limestone, and clay

Sauternes

Bordeaux's legendary sweet wine appellation producing the world's most prestigious botrytized wines from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle

Savennières AOC

Volnay AOC

Vosne-Romanée AOC

Vouvray AOC

French AOC appellation in the Touraine district of the Loire Valley for white wines exclusively from Chenin Blanc. Produces the full spectrum from dry to sweet, and still to sparkling.