Definition: appellation

Legislation on appellations of origin controls in detail, from the vine to the bottle, all the factors that contribute to the quality of the wine: in particular, the production area, the authorised grape varieties, cultivation methods (pruning, fertilisation, care), yield limits, sometimes the harvesting method (manual harvesting in Champagne), vinification methods, standards relating to chaptalisation if authorised, minimum alcohol content, etc. The French system has served as a model for several wine-producing countries around the world, adapted in a fairly relaxed manner in California and more strictly in Italy.