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63-401: A number of different Appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOCs) apply, or have previously applied, to Blaye. In 1936, 3 AOCs were created for this region: Blaye AOC , Côtes de Blaye AOC and Premières Côtes de Blaye AOC . These all covered the same geographical area, with Premières Côtes de Blaye including the most prestigious properties. These AOCs were revised in the 1990s, and Blaye AOC

126-563: A generic Bordeaux appellation. The area is hillier than the Médoc , rising to a height of over 70m above sea-level. The soil is mostly clay over limestone. The area under vines is around 7000 hectares. A little river, called Rau de Brouillon separates Blaye from the Bourgeais. Red wine is made predominantly from Merlot , Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc , with small quantities of Malbec , Petit Verdot and Carménère . White wine under

189-506: A concept of different regions having the potential to produce very different and distinct wines, even from the same grapes. The Ancient Greeks would stamp amphorae with the seal of the region they came from, and different regions established reputations based on the quality of their wines. For centuries, literate and disciplined members of the Benedictine and Cistercian orders cultivated grapes in much of Burgundy . With vast landholdings,

252-409: A higher standard with the "lesser" premier cru . These critics also question the difference between New World and Old World wine and whether modern winemaking techniques – like significant oak influences, over-ripened fruit , cultured yeast, micro-oxygenation, and color pigment additives – obscure or even eliminate the influence of terroir in making different regions unique. Critics often point to

315-753: A list of designated products. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union is an example. Alternatively, the country can seek the development of rules or agreements at the World Trade Organization . Since each country has its own legal and agricultural framework, the specifics of each trade relationship are likely to vary. Also, there are often conflicts between trademarks and geographical indications. For instance, in Canada, only Canadian wines can be VQA approved but other certification trademarks can be registered under

378-568: A notable example) and Cognac where the chalky soil, climate and distance from the ocean are all factors influencing the product. Producers of single malt whisky , bourbon , rum , and vodka use terroir elements in their production process, including wood flavors derived from barrel aging . The tenet of terroir has also been applied to the production of artisan cheese , and French authorities have fought to balance traditional cheesemakers terroir cheeses concerns with those of major industrialists. The flavor of cheeses (and other dairy products)

441-452: A particular vineyard or row of grapevines (like the Grand Cru vineyard of La Grande Rue ). The element of soil relates both to the composition and the intrinsic nature of the vineyard soils , such as fertility, drainage and ability to retain heat. Geomorphology refers to natural landscape features like mountains , valleys and bodies of water , which affect how the climate interacts with

504-491: A rigorous set of clearly defined standards; they are to be produced in a consistent and traditional manner with ingredients from specifically classified producers in designated geographical areas. The products must also be aged at least partially in the respective designated area. Under French law, it is illegal to manufacture and sell a product under one of the AOC-controlled geographical indications if it does not comply with

567-537: A similar type of protection for regional products called the AOP ( appellation d'origine protégée ; or, in English, Protected designation of origin , PDO). This protection recognizes products that are the "result of a unique combination of human and environmental factors that are characteristic of a given territory." Most products with an AOC designation also have a protected designation of AOP under EU law. For those products, only

630-460: A special logo, in addition to the Appellation d'origine protégée (AOP) . The importance of terroir affects the price of the agricultural product as well as the products made from the product. Branding, variety, and farmer identification affects the price of a product. The Slow Food movement appreciates history of a variety of plant or animal, the story of the farmer who produced it, and ultimately

693-473: A variety of climatic and soil conditions, while others are small and highly uniform. For example, the Côtes du Rhône AOC covers some 75,000 acres (about 30,000 hectares) and 171 villages, making it one of the largest AOCs. However, within its area lies one of the smallest AOCs, Château-Grillet , which occupies less than 4 hectares (9.9 acres) of land. The INAO's mission is to ensure that all AOC products are held to

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756-462: Is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype , including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop's specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character. Some artisanal crops and foods for which terroir may apply include wine , cheese , coffee , single malt whisky , onions , and tea . Terroir

819-411: Is a controversial element since some will advocate that its use is beneficial in bringing out the natural terroir characteristics while others will argue that its use can mask the influences of the terroir. Vineyard management (e.g., growing grapes organically or biodynamically over a more conventional method of farming) can also be seen as a human controlled aspect of terroir. Many decisions during

882-637: Is a wine classification system based on geographic region, but it differs from the AOC in important ways. Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete wines are commonly seen as less prestigious than Qualitätswein mit Prädikat , making it more similar to the Vin de Pays or Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure systems. Portugal 's Denominação de Origem Controlada , Austria 's Districtus Austria Controllatus , South Africa 's Wine of Origin , and Switzerland 's AOC-IGP are all similar to

945-561: Is determined by the combination of a physical and biological environment with established production techniques transmitted within a human community. Together, these give the product its distinctive qualities. The defining technical and geographic factors are set forth in standards for each product, including wines, cheeses and meats. Other countries and the European Union have similar labeling systems. The European Union 's protected designation of origin (PDO and PGI) system has harmonized

1008-406: Is impacted by the production location. For instance, Alpine pastures are composed of a larger variety of grasses, herbs, and flowers, than those in the lowlands. At higher elevations, the flora also changes significantly throughout the grazing period (from spring to autumn), thus also impacting the taste of cheeses produced in different batches. In Switzerland, Alp cheese is typically indicated with

1071-501: Is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for wine appellation and regulation in France and around the world. The AOC system presumes that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that growing site (the plants' habitat). The extent of terroir's significance is debated in the wine industry. Over

1134-546: Is therefore necessarily a somewhat arbitrary list, but the following are considered noteworthy by one or other of the references: Château du Grand Barrail, Château Barbé, Château le Menaudat, Château Segonzac, Château Bourdieu, Château l'Escadre, Château Bel-Air la Royère, Château Bertinerie, Château Haut-Bertinerie, Château Gigault, Château les Jonqueyres, Château Mondésir-Gazin, Château Rolande-la-Garde, Château Crusquet Sabourin, Château Les Moines, Château Gauthier Appellation d%27origine contr%C3%B4l%C3%A9e In France,

1197-502: The Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO). The certification system is designed to protect distinctive and traditional regional products, based on the upon the concept of terroir . Terroir refers to a given geographical area having specific environmental and human features that affect an agricultural product's key characteristics. These factors are meant to capture unique environmental features (e.g. type of soil, topology of

1260-412: The appellation d'origine contrôlée ( French pronunciation: [apɛlasjɔ̃ dɔʁiʒin kɔ̃tʁole] , lit.   ' controlled designation of origin ' ; AOC ) is a label that identifies an agricultural product whose stages of production and processing are carried out in a defined geographical area – the terroir – and using recognized and traditional know-how. The specificity of an AOC product

1323-603: The Law for the Protection of the Place of Origin was passed, specifying the region and commune in which a given product must be manufactured. This law has since been revised many times. On 30 July 1935, the Comité National des appellations d'origine (CNAO) was created by representatives of the government and the major winegrowers to manage the administration of the AOC process for wines at

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1386-535: The United States there is some confusion over the use of semi-generic names like Champagne and Port but there has been more effort by the American wine industry to recognize the unique association of place names with the wines produced in those places, such as the 2005 Napa Declaration on Place agreement. While appellation systems and the protected designations of origin can be a way of protecting "unique terroir",

1449-553: The United States Federal Trade Commission . In some East Asian countries, terms like terroir or marriage have been popularised by Japanese manga . A 2008–09 Korean drama , most of whose leading characters work with wine, is titled Terroir after the main setting, a wine restaurant in turn named for the concept. The concept of terroir has been discussed in several films and television shows. Jonathan Nossiter 's 2004 documentary, Mondovino , explores

1512-472: The growing and winemaking process can either lessen or increase the expression of terroir in the wine. These include decisions about pruning , irrigation and selecting time of harvest . At the winery, the use of oak , cultured or ambient yeast, length of maceration and time in contact with lees , temperature during fermentation , and processes like micro-oxygenation , chaptalization , clarification with fining agents , and reverse osmosis all have

1575-551: The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. On 2 July 1990, the scope of work of the INAO was extended beyond wines to cover other agricultural products. Over 300 French wines are entitled to the display the AOC seal on their label. Wines still may use this label, despite classification under EU and UK law as Protected Designation of Origin. In 2018, 47% of the wines produced in France were wines with a controlled designation of origin. Legislation concerning

1638-958: The Bordeaux region to experiment on a trial basis with four red and two white vine types selected from other areas of France. The new types can make up no more than 10% of the final wine blend. The rest must be from the six red and eight white grape varieties traditionally cultivated in the region during its 2,000 year history. Another approach to protecting plants against the effects of climate change involves experimenting with rootstocks to develop plants that are resilient, vigorous and use water more efficiently under stressful conditions. Differences in planting, irrigation and harvesting practices are also being studied. Practices developed in warmer climates like Australia, Israel, South America, and Spain are being adapted for use in countries that used to be cooler, as temperatures rise. The concept of terroir exists in other drinks, notably in tea ( Wuyi rock-essence tea being

1701-643: The EU PDO/AOP designation can be used. However, wines with a PDO/AOP status can still use the French AOC designation. After Brexit, all geographic indications already established under EU law as of 31 December 2020 are also recognized under UK law, according to Article 54, paragraph 2 of the withdrawal treaty. Many other countries have based their controlled place name systems on the French AOC classification. Italy 's Denominazione di Origine Controllata and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita followed

1764-461: The European Union may compete in international markets with foreign products that refer to a geographical origin that has nothing to do with where the product is produced (e.g. Parmesan that is produced in the United States and not in a narrowly defined region of northern Italy). In such cases, bilateral agreements with other countries, whereupon the signatories agree to accord a special status to

1827-518: The French AOC system as well. Switzerland has an appellation d'origine contrôlée certification for wines and an appellation d'origine protégée certification for other food products. Before 2013, the appellation d'origine contrôlée was used for all products. The United States' American Viticultural Areas also follows the model set by the French AOC. The United States Department of the Treasury 's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau even uses

1890-404: The French AOC systems, have developed around the concepts of "unique wines from a unique area". These systems have also developed into protected designation of origin across the European Union so that, for example, winemakers from outside a region like Tuscany can not produce a Sangiovese wine and call it a Chianti . While the wine may be made from the same clonal variety of Sangiovese, in

1953-482: The actual product, and there is almost no way to verify that the finished bottled product is the same as the original AOC sample. In 1925, Roquefort became the first cheese to be awarded an AOC label, and since then over 40 cheeses have been assigned AOC status. The generally are also classified as Protected Designations of Origin under EU law, and thus use the PDO/AOP logo, rather than the AOC logo. EU law has created

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2016-438: The centuries, French winemakers developed the concept of terroir by observing the differences in wines from different regions, vineyards, or even different sections of the same vineyard. The French began to crystallize the concept of terroir as a way of describing the unique aspects of a place that influence and shape the wine made from it. Long before the French, the wine-making regions of the ancient world had already developed

2079-518: The commercial importance of terroir has been a much debated topic in the wine industry. In Spain in 2018, networks of vintners joined in a grassroots movement to produce wines with added terroir value with intention to enhance the Spanish rural wine culture. As climate change disrupts long-established patterns of temperature and precipitation in wine-growing regions and causes more extreme weather events, there are potential serious impacts on terroir and

2142-486: The common conception of terroir as a myth. While Matthews agrees local characteristics can have an effect on plant growth and the wines made from particular grapes, he points out that the term is imprecisely defined, and also proposes the concept of terroir is accepted primarily based on traditional belief , and is not backed by rigorous data or research. The definition of terroir can be expanded to include elements that are controlled or influenced by humans. This can include

2205-445: The control of humans. Components often described as aspects of terroir include: The interaction of climate and terroir is generally broken down from the macroclimate of a larger area (For example, the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy ), down to the mesoclimate of a smaller subsection of that region (such as the village of Vosne-Romanée ) and even to the individual microclimate of

2268-520: The criteria of the AOC. In order to make them easily recognizable, all AOC products carry a seal. The seal displays a number as well as the name of the certifying body. The color of the seal indicates the product classification: green for field products and red for dairy products. To prevent any possible misrepresentation, no part of an AOC name may be used on a label of a product not qualifying for that AOC. This strict label policy can lead to confusion, especially where towns share names with appellations. If

2331-422: The decision of which grape variety to plant, though whether or not that grape variety will produce quality wine is an innate element of terroir that may be beyond human influence. Some grape varieties thrive better in certain areas than in others. The winemaking decision of using wild or ambient yeast in fermentation instead of cultured or laboratory produced yeast can be a reflection of terroir. The use of oak

2394-470: The geographical boundaries of the Cabardès AOC . Any vineyard that produces wine in one of those towns must not mention the name of the town of origin on the product labels. The origins of AOC date to 1411, when the production of blue Roquefort cheese was regulated by parliamentary decree. The first French law determining viticultural designations of origin dates to the 1 August 1905, and, on 6 May 1919,

2457-409: The globalization of the wine business, and features interviews with a number of small producers, mostly French, who talk about terroir. In the 2006 BBC series, Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure , one episode is almost entirely devoted to Oz Clarke teaching James May about terroir. At the end of the episode, May identifies three wines successfully, placing them in the correct order on the basis of

2520-417: The goal is to make good wine rather than terroir-driven wine. The importance of these influences depends on the culture of a particular wine region. In France, particularly Burgundy, there is the belief that the role of a winemaker is to bring out the expression of a wine's terroir. The French word for "winemaker," vigneron , is more aptly translated as "wine-grower" rather than "winemaker". The belief that

2583-429: The homogenizing effect on mass-produced wines made from popular varietals like Chardonnay , which may have their terroir characteristics hidden by invasive and intensive winemaking. A heavily oaked, over-ripe Chardonnay from California can taste very similar to the same style of wine from elsewhere. The marketability of wines from different regions and producers is affected by the importance accorded to terroir, both by

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2646-531: The initiative of Joseph Capus . In the Rhône wine region Baron Pierre Le Roy Boiseaumarié , a trained lawyer and winegrower from Châteauneuf-du-Pape , successfully obtained legal recognition of the " Côtes du Rhône " appellation of origin in 1936. After World War II the Committee became the public-private Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO). The AOC seal was created and mandated by French laws in

2709-609: The intellectual property regime. The owner of a certification trademark is then allowed to sell licences to be used for certain products meeting the owner's criteria. Thus in the case of wines, one AOC certification trademark is owned by the French Republic, while another is owned by Maison des Futailles , a wine producer, of which the publicly owned Société des alcools du Québec is a partner. Terroir Terroir ( / t ɛ r ˈ w ɑːr / ; French: [tɛʁwaʁ] ; from terre , lit.   ' lands ' )

2772-430: The label Côtes de Blaye is made predominantly from Colombard and Ugni blanc , whereas white wine under the label Côtes de Bordeaux (Blaye) is made predominantly from Sauvignon blanc , Semillon and Muscadelle . The red wines are fresh and fruity, and should be drunk relatively young, while the whites (which are usually dry) are light and softly fruity. There is no classification for the châteaux of Blaye, and this

2835-407: The legal terminology "Appellation of Wine Origin" to describe a vintage wine's location of origin. The AVA indication on a label indicates that 85% of the grapes for wine are grown in the designated AVA. Overall, the appellation of a wine simply says where the grapes are from, although there are some particularities. If the appellation is a state, 100% of the grapes which go into the wine must come from

2898-558: The model set by the French AOC, and the EU standard for Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (QWpsr) also corresponds closely. While Spain's denominación de origen is very similar, the classification of Rioja in 1925 and Sherry in 1933 preceded the French AOC system by a few years and show that Spain's DdO system developed parallel to France's AOC system to some extent. Similarly, Germany 's Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete

2961-413: The monks could conduct large-scale observation of the influences that various parcels of land had on the wine it produced. Some legends have the monks establishing the boundaries of different terroirs – many of which still exist today as the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy. While wine experts disagree about the exact definition, particular consideration is given to the natural elements that are beyond

3024-450: The potential to either reduce or emphasize some aspect derived from the terroir. Winemakers can work between the extremes of producing wine that is terroir-driven and focused on purely expressing the unique aspects of a region's terroir, or winemaking that is done without any consideration given to terroir. Furthermore, aspects of terroir such as climate and soil type may be considered when deciding such things as which grape variety to plant if

3087-410: The process of label approval is enforced to the millimetre, the quality control for the wine in the bottle is less strict. A blind taster must approve the wine for it to receive AOC classification, but this tasting often occurs before the product is even bottled, and by a local expert who may well have ties to the local vintners. Even if the taster is objective, the wine sample may not be representative of

3150-399: The production environment, local climate) and farming and processing practices (e.g. the steps taken and inputs used in producing a specific type of cheese). Thus, it includes the traditional savoir-faire that goes into the production of AOC products. Taken together, these give the product its distinctive qualities. The terroirs of AOCs vary dramatically in size. Some cover vast expanses with

3213-462: The protection of all geographical indications and their registration. When labelling wine however, producers may still use recognized traditional terms like AOC, and are not required to display the PDO and PGI logos or terms, mostly for aesthetic purposes. The AOC certification of authenticity is granted to certain geographical indications for wines , cheeses , butters , and other agricultural products by

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3276-498: The provinces of Ontario and British Columbia regulate it. Outside their home country, the protections afforded by the AOC status may not be available in foreign markets. Part of the problem arises from the fact that European migrants to various countries marketed food products under the names referring to the places they came from (e.g. Parmesan, Rioja). After many years, such names became simply generic names for food products. Thus, products which are labelled AOC in France or AOP in

3339-544: The quality of terroir they come from. Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht's 2007 documentary, All In This Tea , explores the importance of terroir and organic growing methods for the quality and future sustainability of the Chinese tea market. Terroir is also a frequent topic of discussion in the Japanese wine comic Les Gouttes de Dieu . The films French Kiss and A Good Year also make references to terroir. Terroir recognition

3402-477: The quality of the product. Chefs and bakers develop their own list of qualities they desire for their creations, and terroir affects these. Wine critics question the value of a Pinot noir wine from a Burgundy Grand Cru vineyard relative to a wine produced from the "lesser terroir" of a Premier Cru vineyard, and whether it merits the higher price. These doubts also arise when the quality of winemaking and other human influences are taken into account, which may be of

3465-479: The region, and includes the elements of aspect and elevation of the vineyard location. Other organisms growing in, on, and around the vine plots refers to the region specific fauna , flora , and microflora present in the vineyards. The microbial populations in vineyards have been described as being a quantifiable aspect of the overall terroir . Mark A. Matthews, a professor of viticulture and plant physiology at University of California, Davis , has described

3528-503: The same soil composition as found in the Chianti region with winemakers using the Tuscan method of production, there is an assumption that the two wines will be different due to terroir. The names of these European wine regions are protected so that wines from different regions and different terroir are not confused with wines from that those regions – i.e. a Spanish or Australian "chianti". In

3591-491: The specific state. If a winery gets grapes from a neighboring state (for example, a California vintner getting Pinot noir from Oregon ), it may label the wine "Oregon", but if the state is not a neighboring one (for example, a California vintner getting Cabernet from Washington state ), the only permitted appellation is "American". In Canada , there is a government-sanctioned wine standard called Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA). It only applies to Canadian wines, and only

3654-722: The terroir is the dominant influence in the wine is the basis behind French wine labels emphasizing the region, vineyard, or AOC more prominently than the varietal of grape, and often more prominently than the producer. The influence of terroir means that wines from a particular region are unique, incapable of being reproduced outside that area, even if the grape variety and winemaking techniques are painstakingly duplicated. Winemakers in Burgundy do not believe that they are producing Pinot noir that happens to be grown in Burgundy, but that they are producing unique Burgundian wines that happen to be made from Pinot noir. Appellation systems, such as

3717-463: The town of origin of a product contains a controlled appellation in its name, the producer (who is legally required to identify the place of origin on the product label but legally prohibited from using the full town's name unless the product is an approved AOC product) is enjoined from listing anything more than a cryptic postal code. For example, there are a dozen townships in l'Aude that have Cabardès in their names, several of which are not even within

3780-418: The way vineyards are identified makes recognizing the various AOCs very challenging for wine drinkers not accustomed to the system. Often, distinguishing classifications requires knowledge of esoteric label laws such as "Unless the wine is from a Premier Cru vineyard, the vineyard name must be printed in characters no more than half the height of the ones used for the village name." On the other hand, while

3843-486: The wine industry and consumer wine markets, with some producers downplaying terroir and its effect on their wines. In the United States, the principles of terroir have been applied in a few limited instances, such as Vidalia onions , whose production area has been defined by the United States Department of Agriculture and Indian River fruit , which can only carry that label if grown within an area defined by

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3906-474: The wine industry. Hotter temperatures and an earlier growing season can push berries towards a higher sugar content, less acids and differences in secondary compounds that are important for aromas. Growers are attempting to adapt in a variety of ways in response. In 2021, in a controversial move, the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment formally authorized wine producers in

3969-506: Was used for the top reds (while still being used for some simple dry whites). In 2007, the AOCs were revised again. Blaye AOC is now exclusively red, and Côtes de Blaye AOC is exclusively white. Premières Côtes de Blaye has been absorbed into Côtes de Bordeaux AOC , which covers both red and white wines, and may have the word Blaye appended, subject to stricter controls. Rosé wines are not covered by any of these AOCs, and must be sold under

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