There are several factors that consumers use when making a decision about what wine to buy. Say you decide on a French wine, there’s region, grape, label design, red or white, etc. But how can one know whether or not the wine they are choosing is ‘quality’ wine? That is where the French Quality Pyramid comes into play. And if you’re not already confused, the pyramid has made a few changes.
Let’s start with the basics. There are 4 levels of ‘quality’.
VdT – Vin de Table or ‘Table Wine’
This is the wine that can come from many different grapes and many different vineyards, yet it winds up all together in your bottle. By no means is it bad wine, but definitely does not have a sense of place or vintage for that matter. The label may even just say ‘Wine’. True story!
VdP – Vin de Pays
In 1976 the Vin de Pays (VdP) step was added as a “superior table wine” that could better compete with varietal wines in other countries. France likes to keep everything a mystery that only those who seek out the exact grapes from that region or vineyard will know what’s in the bottle. At the Vin de Pays level, the grape varietals are often found on the back label. A lot of experimentation happens at this level as well. Vignerons that want to try something different with a blend or grow an ‘unauthorized’ grape can do so with a VdP wine. If you’re looking for something interesting or to wow your friends, select a wine from this category. Your friends and your wallet will thank you.
VDQS – Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure
Created in 1954, the Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) step was added to the system as a place to classify land being considered for the promotion to AOC status. So, think of VDQS as a placeholder level. To reach AOC level, there are several hoops that need to be jumped through so once the application has been submitted and approved, VDQS is put on the label. Whether these wines actually make AOC or not, you at least know that they thought they were good enough to submit the application. That counts for something, right?
AOC – Appellation d’Origine Controlée
Established by the French government in the 1950s, Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC) is the highest quality level for French wine. In order to obtain AOC status, the wines can only be made from authorized grape varieties, grown in authorized areas, then vinified, blended, packaged and marketed in an authorized way. These are the hoops I mentioned earlier. There is a lot that has to be in order to gain this qualification, but once you get it and put it on the label, it’s a STRIKE!
AOP – Appellation d’Origine Protégée
Got it? Great, now we’re changing it! Instead of AOC, the French will now be calling their highest quality level AOP – Appellation d’Origine Protégée. Why the name change? As the French will tell you about so many things, ‘Why not?’
Comments