AC, AOC

Short for appellation controlee, part of the French system that classifies wines according to their geographical origin.

Each AC has a set of rules defining the region of production, permitted grape

varieties and yields, and sometimes alcohol and sugar levels. For some ACs, a

tasting panel must approve wines before they are sold. The system provides a

guarantee of authenticity for the consumer while protecting the producer from

competition. See also ‘Vin de Pays’, ‘VDQS’, ‘Vin de table’.