Appellation d'Origine Protegee (AOP)
Definition - What does Appellation d'Origine Protegee (AOP) mean?
An appellation is a geographical indicator that explains where the grapes used to produce a certain wine were grown. Appellation d'Origine Protégée is a French term which translates to Protected Designation of Origin in English. This used and accepted across Europe as an equivalent of the French term Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, in which the quality of the wine produced in Europe is classified.
WineFrog explains Appellation d'Origine Protegee (AOP)
Europe introduced the appellation system in an effort to uphold and protect the names of quality wine produced. Premier cru and grand cru are part of this appellation system. To be labeled as quality wine with an appellation from a certain region, the wine label must mention the specific region where it was produced. Any wine that fails to have this label is considered table wine.
To earn the Appellation d'Origine Protégée status, the grapes must be grown within a specific area, along with the entire wine production process taking place in the area. This lebeling ensures that the origin of the wine, from the growing of the grapes to the production of the wine, is clearly protected and defined.
