Appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined, government protected geographical area, which is used to identify where grapes were grown and to ensure standards of quality. It provides guidelines on grape varieties, yields and production methods. Common appellation systems include the French AOC/AOP, Italian DOCG and US AVAs.
See Also
IGT
IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica (in English, Typical Geographical Indication). It is an Italian wine classification that guarantees the origin of the grapes used in a bottle of wine.
Cru
"Cru" is a French term meaning "growth", referring to a superior, high quality growing site, vineyard, or village.
AVA
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated and legally defined wine grape growing region in the United States which is identifiable by its geography, soil and climate. A wine labeled with an AVA must use at least 85% grapes grown in the region.
AOC
AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) is a prestigious French wine regulatory system that guarantees that it comes from a specific, defined region and that its production adheres to strict, traditional production standards.
Grand Cru
Grand Cru is the highest legal classification for top tier vineyards in France, especially in Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne. The term translates to "greath growth" and it is used to describe a vineyard site known for its superior terroir, exceptional quality and high aging potential.
DOC
DOC means Denominazione di Origine Controllata, an Italian wine quality classification system that guarantees that the wine was produced in a specific region using authorized grape varieties and methods.
Grapes
Wine grapes are the fruit of the grape vine, small thick skinned and sugary berries, majorly from the Vitis vinifera species. Popular grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
pH
The pH of wine is the measure of its total acidity (hydrogen ion concentration), typically ranging from 2.9 to 4.0 in most wines.