Many wine regions of the world are driven by grape varietal, and when purchasing a bottle, it is the grape type that is at the forefront of the mind for wine drinkers. Yet in France, the traditional view of representing a wine by their region and appellation is most important. This can prove difficult for casual wine drinkers of Australia just trying to find a nice chardonnay from France without having to spend hours researching the regions of France that produce them.

Bound by traditions, AOC restrictions, and pride, many French winemakers champion the location of the vines from which the grapes were picked to make the vine, followed by the overall region/sub-region and the vintage. Below are a few examples of French wine bottles from different regions of France as well as explanations for each element presented.

General Label Structure

Winery Name

The name of the Domaine or Chateau is included as an emblem or simple text.

Vintage

The year the wine was harvested and vinified, unless a blend of several years.

Region/Sub-Region/Village

The location in which the grapes were harvested

Appellation Distinction (Read more here)

Three tiers of classification.

• Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC)
• Includes the geographical location, quality, and style of wine
• Premier Cru
• Second tier of wine classification
• Vineyard plot of superior quality
• Grand Cru
• Highest classification of French wine
• Plot of land where the grapes are grown. 
• Or in Bordeaux, the chateau at which the wine is made
• Vin de Pays:
• The broader classification as the pre-European Union equivalent of IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée)
• Only classified based on the geographical region of where the wines were made with a larger area that the main AOCs. This allows for wider boundaries with respect to individual styles of winemaking.

• Vin de France
• The least regulated classification with minimal rules around which grapes are grown where, and how the wines are made.
• The labels do not mention a specific region of origin, with vintage and grape variety optional

Varietals

Every so often you will find the types of grapes that are within the wine.

Producer name & Address

For Domaines or Chateaus not named after the current winemaker, the producer adds their name or signature along with their location.

French wine label Terms