Which was the first vineyard to obtain an AOC in France?

It’s at the beginning to fight against fraud, that was gradually built the concept of Denomination of Origin, from the beginning of the XXth century (law of 1905). The law of July 30, 1935 relating to the defense of the wine market then creates the “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” (Controled Denomination of Origin), applicable to wines and spirits and the organism in charge of its control, the “Comité National des Appellations d’origine des vins et des eaux-de-vie » (National Committee of Denomination of Origin for wines and spirits). This Committee will become in 1947 the “Institut National des Appellations d’Origine des vins et eaux-de-vie » or INAO (National Institute of Denomination of Origin for wines and spirits).

Following the decree-law of 1935, it is the vineyards of the appellation Arbois, in Jura region, which were the first to obtain the AOC classification in France on May 15, 1936. Also classified on this occasion: Châteauneuf-du- Pope, Tavel, Cassis and Monbazillac.

The creation of the “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” classification is largely driven by Baron Leroy, winemaker in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and his friend Joseph Capus, member of parliament for Gironde. In Arbois the candidature is led by Joseph Girard, who gets the first classification.

In the case of Arbois vineyard, to obtain the label, the specifications define the grape varieties used at that time: Chardonnay and Savagnin for the whites, Ploussard, Trousseau and Pinot noir for the reds. It also defines a territory made up of 12 villages with specific parcels.

As a result, many other French vineyards have obtained an AOC classification. There are currently 361 AOC for wines and spirits in France.

Sources websites : « www.inao.gouv.fr » and  « www.jaimemonpatrimoine.fr »