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A Guide to the French Wine Ratings System

Respect French wine and it will respect YOU!

by Wine Taster
published: 15 May 2009       | Comments

French Wine Ratings are a bit more complex than the numeric system most of us are accustomed to. The French do not assign a number between 1 and 100 to their wines. That's far too systematic and logical for French wine ratings, and it leaves out the French system's passion. The French ratings rank wine by class, quality and distinction. Wine is about passion and enjoyment, and nothing sucks passion out quicker than a standardized numeric system.

The French pride themselves on their wine. And why shouldn't they? France has been the best wine region since the dark ages and is currently the most famous region in the world for wine. They have earned their snobbery.

There's a secret to French wine that draws a striking similarity to French travel. Here's the trick: respect French wine and it will respect you. This necessitates learning about how the French assign their wine grades. This is serious business in France. It's not a random system subject to opinion and taste - it's the law! There are four "legal" ranks for French wine ratings. Knowing the rating system is your key to finding a good French wine.

The Four Legal Ranks for French Wine Ratings

A wine's rank usually appears on the label, and it indicates (from highest to lowest) the general status of the wine:

• Appellation Contrôlée (AOC or AC) ratings signify the crème de la crème of French wines. Very strict legislation guarantees the superb quality of AOC wines.


• Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure (VDQA) ratings translate to "demarcated wine of superior quality." In the hierarchy of wines, these come just after the AOC. They are also strictly controlled by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO).


• Vins de Pays ratings essentially mean "country wines," and are usually followed on the label by the name of the area the grapes are from. Regulations are less restrictive for Vins de Pays wines. These wines are increasingly popular these days because they are rather cheap and perfect for daily drinking.


• Vins de Table are French table wines that have no region, vintage or grape variety indicated on the label. About 40 to 50 percent of the wine produced in France falls under the table wine category. Vin de Table is the everyday wine of France. There are few restrictions or rules applied to Vin de Table wine.

Understanding French wine ratings is a crucial step in learning how to enjoy French wines. Don't let the French intimidate you! Respect their system and you will soon be enjoying the world's most famous wine!