The difference between table wine and red wine

In foreign countries, red wine is divided into various categories, unlike in the country where it is lumped together. In foreign countries, especially France, red wine is divided into grades according to the law. Generally, there are four grades: wine produced in legal areas, table wine produced in excellent areas, table wine from ordinary areas, and daily table wine, so only a part of it can be called wine. The specific content is introduced in detail in this article, let’s take a look together.

French law divides French wine into four levels: wines of legal designation of origin, fine regional table wines, regional table wines, and everyday table wines.

Legal wine

The grade is abbreviated as AOC, which is the highest grade of French wine. AOC means "Designation of Origin Controlled" in French. The grape varieties, planting quantity, brewing process, alcohol content, etc. of the origin area must be certified by experts. It can only be brewed with grapes grown in the place of origin and must not be blended with grape juice from other places. AOC production accounts for approximately 35% of France's total wine production. The wine bottle label is marked with Appellation+appellation name+Controlee.

Fine table wine

The abbreviation of the level is VDQS, which is the level that ordinary regional table wine must go through in the transition to AOC level. If the wine performs well during the VDQS period, it will be upgraded to AOC. The output accounts for only 2% of the total French wine production. The wine bottle label is marked with Appellation + production area name + Qualite Superieure.

Regional wine

The best of VIN DE PAYS everyday table wines are upgraded to regional table wines. The label of regional table wine can indicate the production area. It can be blended with grape juice from a designated producing area, but only with grapes from that producing area. The output accounts for about 15% of the total French wine production. The wine bottle label is marked as Vin de Pays + the name of the producing area. Most of France's regional table wines are produced in the southern Mediterranean coast.

Everyday wine

VIN DE TABLE is the lowest grade wine for daily drinking. It can be blended from grape juice from different regions. If the grape juice is limited to the producing areas of France, it can be called French everyday table wine. Grape juice from countries outside the European Community is not allowed to be used, and the output accounts for about 38% of the total French wine production.

Latest Fixes

On October 6, 2009, the French Parliament decided that with the reform of the French Common Wine Organization (OCM) and the creation of a new category, Vin de France, which does not indicate grape varieties and years, L'ANIVIT (French National Association of Everyday Table and Local Table Wines) will be renamed L'ANIVIN DEFRANCE (French National Wine Industry Association), and Vin De Table (Everyday Table Wine) and the "T" in L'ANIVIT will disappear. French table wine VDT was renamed VDF (Vin de France). After August 1, 2009, all VDPs in the EU were renamed IGPs. The grades are: VDF, IGP, VDQS, AOC