Look closely, and you will begin to see slight changes in the labeling of many of your favorite French wines! The French wine classification system has been 'under reconstruction' since 2006, and will shortly take effect. The major change is to the current VDQS level, which will be eliminated. Current VDQS wines will need to apply for AOP status and be accepted, or be declassified to IGP. Here are both the 'old' and 'new' levels:

OLD:

Vin de Table– Carries with it only the producer and the designation that it is from France.

Vin de Pays– Carries with it a specific region within France (for example Vin de Pays d'Oc from Languedoc-Roussillon)

Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) – Less strict than AOC, a "waiting room" for potential AOCs. This category will be eliminated by 2012.

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) – Wine from a particular area with many other restrictions, including grape varieties and winemaking methods.

 NEW:

Vin de France, a table wine category basically replacing Vin de Table, but allowing grape variety and vintage to be indicated on the label.

Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP), an intermediate category, basically replacing Vin de Pays.

Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP), the highest category, basically replacing AOC wines.

In essence, there will be three recognized quality levels rather than four, and each will have a new name. The changes will be insignificant, with no real changes to the labels and none to the wine itself or to the land.

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor