Solutre Rock with vineyards, Burgundy, France

Understanding AOC: Burgundy

Ok, it’s officially the theme for this series.  You’ve heard of Burgundy, so we will skip over that part.  But as with all facets of the Understanding AOC writings, what is in the bottle!? If it is a red wine, it is Pinot Noir.  If it is a…

Understanding AOC: Champagne

We feel like there might be a theme building here with the Understanding AOC series, but we will skip over the introductions to Champagne as the most widely recognized sparkling wine in the world. At one point in time the wine was in danger of losing its signature…

landscape view of Saint Emilion village in Bordeaux region in France

Understanding AOC: Bordeaux

We’re going to go out on a limb here and assume you have heard of Bordeaux before and skip the whole “one of the most recognizable wine regions in the world” speil and get down to the real reason we are talking about it – what is in…

AOC wine barrels in front of cellar in France

Understanding AOC: The AOC

When you buy a bottle of Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, or any other French wine, there is a governing body that oversees the labeling and production standards to guarantee the finest provenance for the labeled product.  That body is the Appellation d’origine contrôlée, or more simply, the AOC. The…