Appellation

(n.) A geographic boundary wherein certain winemaking and grape-growing rules must be followed in order for the wine to carry the name of the appellation. Countries set their own regulations for areas, usually having to do with acceptable grape varieties, interventions done to pressed grape juice by the winemaker, and aging rules. Each country has their own organizational system: France is controlled by the L’Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO), Germany the Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) system, and the United States’ American Viticultural Area (AVA) system is regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.