French wine law follows the European AOP/IGP system: AOC/AOP identifies wines governed by protected origin rules, IGP allows broader geographic and production flexibility, and Vin de France covers wines without a protected geographical indication.
Each appellation’s cahier des charges defines its boundaries, permitted grapes, yields, vineyard practices, winemaking, aging, and labeling requirements, while terms such as village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru apply only where authorized by that specific appellation.