🤫 CLICHÉ OF THE DAY DEBUNK 🤫 Natural wine and AOC, friends or enemies?

Ah, the clichés... You've heard them, and so have we! Among them, the idea that natural wines necessarily turn their backs on Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (Controlled Designation of Origin), which would be a misguided reference for the consumer, which is false. For various reasons, some natural winemakers and their vintages don't claim a controlled designation of origin, and they are said to be in the majority, which is also false, let's discuss it!

Another prejudice 💪

Let's start by saying that this is false, completely false! And even if a few winemakers decide to go it alone, many natural estates still believe in the AOC. The proof is in our selection filled with natural wines with an appellation. Two fine examples: the Côtes-du-Rhône reds from Les Grandes Serres, freshness and fruitiness guaranteed! Or the crisp, AOC Pinot Noirs from Frédéric Cossard, a great Burgundian name in its natural state. Who said that natural and AOC wines don't mix well? 🍇

What's an AOC? 📍

But what exactly is an appellation? First appearing in 1936, AOCs protect expertise and define a strict framework for a given geographical area. In wine, an appellation consists of specifications that outline the rules of the game, i.e., the communes within the geographical area, authorized grape varieties, and the desired style of wine.

Each appellation is then managed by a Management Body (ODG) responsible for monitoring the estates and validating (or not) the wines during a tasting known as an approval. Yes, sometimes a wine can be rejected if it doesn't fit the "standard" profile sought by the appellation, whether natural or not! For example, a red Burgundy should be fresh, fruity, and represent all the elegance of Pinot Noir... as is the case for Pierre Naigeon's 2018 Grands Champs cuvée, where fruit and finesse characterize this wine.

AOC wine, a standardized taste? 👅

The appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) has helped consumers navigate the jungle of bottles in supermarkets and wine shops. An AOC for a wine style is a very useful benchmark for all wine lovers! But it's precisely this quest for a standardized taste that's causing debate today. Many wineries—organic, natural, or conventional—are challenging this model. Indeed, it raises questions. Wouldn't wanting all wines from an appellation to have (almost) the same taste, that of a particular region, go against the notion of craftsmanship and local products?

In summary

👊 Many natural winemakers proudly display the AOC on their bottles

📜 The AOC is a set of specifications that define the rules of the game for a geographical area to obtain the right to display the name in question on the vintage

✊ AOCs are sometimes synonymous with the standardization of taste, so it's necessary to take a step back and not be too quick to judge vintages that don't bear them

So, what's the future of natural wine? Probably in peaceful coexistence with the AOC, provided it finally accepts all differences.
A word to the wise... cheers! 🤝🍷