Diversity and quality signs: unique flavours
France’s food heritage is based on a great diversity of products, soils, climates, and know-how… in a word, of local areas or terroirs. With this great wealth of assets, France developed quality processes long ago. It invented the concept of “designation of origin”. Synonymous with flavour, know-how, terroir, pleasure and enjoyment, signs identifying the quality and origin of a product are an integral part of France’s food culture and gastronomic heritage, beloved the world over.
The country of cheese
With over 1,000 varieties ranging from mild to very strong, every region – even every city or village – in France has its own cheese!
Wine-growing France
The vast array of grape varieties, combined with diverse soils, climates and winegrowing know-how contribute to the vibrant range of different wines produced at French vineyards. The gamut of French wines includes 476 AOC appellations and 152 vins de pays!
Key figures
- 45% of French wines and 18% of French cheeses feature the AOC designation.
- There are 80 PGIs in France, namely for poultry, fruits and vegetables.
A great variety of products, the fruit of diverse terroirs
France’s geographical diversity and climate are unique. In a single country, an assortment of extremely different climates and incredibly diverse soils form a one-of-a-kind puzzle of terroirs that are so varied you can never see them all! The men and women who work the land adapt these areas, tailor their practices to fit the place, and shape the place to their needs. From generation to generation, they gather and pass down traditional know-how developed to get the most from the land, resulting in products with singular flavour and unique taste. Wines, aperitifs and spirits, milk and cheeses, fruits and vegetables, meats and cold cuts, baked goods, cakes and sweets… Agriculture and agri-food sector professionals are constantly broadening this palette of products in order to offer consumers worldwide products to suit any taste, any budget and any occasion.
Signs for identifying product quality and origin
Espelette pepper, Corsican honey, Ile de Ré potatoes, Bresse chickens, Isigny butter, Comté cheese, Cognac, Chablis and a host of other products are named after a region or a place. Started in France more than a century ago, the policy on the quality and origin of agricultural products, foods and beverages enables farmers and companies to protect the diversity and uniqueness of their products.
Below is the list of the official quality and origin signs:
- Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC): guarantees quality based on an origin in a local soil or terroir
- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): the European equivalent guarantee
- Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): guarantees the link between a product and its geographical origin
- Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG): guarantees the traditional character of the product
- Organic Farming : guarantees quality linked to a type of production protective of the environment and animal welfare
- The agricultural quality label or Label Rouge or red label: guarantees that the product is of superior quality.
Click here to download the brochure presenting the official quality and origin signs
These signs of origin and quality are the jewels of French foods and drinks. They enable consumers to choose quality foods that are authentic, flavourful, produced with respect for the environment and guaranteed by public authorities including the INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité / French national institute for product origins and quality). This concept to protect product origin is drawing increased interest worldwide.
For more information:
A guide to French wines www.vins-france.com
All about French cheeses www.frencheese.co.uk
All about French animal husbandry, dairies and meats www.office-elevage.fr/doctech2/pagedoctech2/tabldoctech.htm