Appellation

An appellation (from the French "appellation d'origine contrôlée") is a system for protecting the names of specific wine-producing regions. The idea is that where a wine comes from tells you something meaningful about what it will taste like — the appellation guarantees that the wine meets certain standards for that origin.

Different countries have their own appellation systems: France uses AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), Italy uses DOC/DOCG, Spain uses DO/DOCa, Germany uses Anbaugebiete, and the USA uses AVA (American Viticultural Area). Each system differs in how prescriptive it is — French AOC rules specify permitted varieties, yields, and even vine training methods, while US AVAs only define geographic boundaries without mandating grape varieties or winemaking.

At Level 2, candidates need to recognise major appellation names and understand what they guarantee. At Level 3, the classification systems within appellations (Burgundy Grand Cru hierarchy, Bordeaux 1855 Classification, Rioja ageing categories) are examined in depth.

The broader concept of "geographical indication" (GI) also applies to other food products like Champagne, Parmesan, and Prosciutto di Parma.