AOCs

Beaujolais winemakers remind us that "It takes a generation for a new appellation to truly exist in its own right".

An appellation - awarded by the l'Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) (national institute for origin and quality) - that is all the more accepted by the winemakers because it is proof of their will to establish an identity for and controlled quality for their products. The AOC adventure is relatively recent and the Beaujolais Crus were among the first to come under an AOC decree in September 1936.

At that time it was for Chiroubles, Fleurie, Chénas, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent, the oldest. The approach, that indexes all the conditions for production: from the plot to the cellar, from vinification to bottling, was next applied in September 1937 to the regional appellation of Beaujolais, shared between the cantons of Villefranche, Anse and Le Bois d'Oingt, and on several villages in the cantons of L'Arbresle and Tarare. On the same day the official decree for White Beaujolais was signed, this limited production is well worth a try.

Then came the appellations of Juliénas in March 1938, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly in October 1938. Saint-Amour was gathered into the Cru family fold in February 1946, before Régnié was consecrated in December 1988.