Confédération Nationale des Producteurs de Vins et Eaux-De-Vie de Vin á Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée

The National Confederation of producers of Appellations of Controlled Origin (AOC) wines and spirits – CNAOC is an umbrella organization of all French AOC winemakers’ unions (syndicats viticoles).

The concept of “AOC” was created in 1935. Its success is based on the definition of specific production methods for each appellation of origin. Today, most of the syndicats viticoles have been recognized as Organisme de Défense et de Gestion (Defense and Management Organization). Their role is fundamental in the wine sector. The CNAOC, founded in 1942, is the legitimate and exclusive representative of the French AOC wines and spirits unions towards national, European and international authorities.

Its missions:

• Promote the AOC concept by preserving the typical character of French wines, protecting the appellations and developing the monitoring of wines’ quality.
• Optimize the management of AOC wines by supporting trade unions’ actions and improving the AOC licensing procedures and any other action in favour of the wine appellations’ development.
• Defend the vineyards and AOC wine producers’ interests by strengthening the legal security of the wine sector, in particular with regard taxation and transfer of businesses, labelling, employment and environmental policy.

Key figures on French AOC wines:

• 63% of the wines and spirits produced in France, i.e. a turnover of 15 billion € in 2005.
• 1st official sign of quality and origin
• N°1 in the French food industry trade surplus (AOC wines and spirits’ contribution = 60%)