Why French Wine
A Country Built on Terroir
No country is more closely tied to the idea that a wine should taste of the place it comes from. France's appellation system, founded in 1935, links each wine to a defined area, permitted grape varieties and traditional methods, which is why a French label names a place before a grape.
From the gravel of the Medoc to the chalk of Champagne, the regions on this site show how soil, climate and centuries of practice shape what ends up in the glass. Our aim is simple: to explain it clearly, so you can choose and enjoy French wine with confidence.
360+
Appellations
1935
AOC System
1855
Classification
