St Emilion classification

The French government has finally authorised that the long-awaited classification for St Emilion can go ahead, despite the fact that there is still a lot of internal strife regarding the matter. The legal notification of the classification was published in the country’s official journal on June 16, after months of setbacks.

To receive classification, all chateaux, including Grand Cru, Grand Cru Classé and Premier Grand Cru Classé, will be tasted blind. The wines will be assessed on taste, their terroir, where they sit in the market and their existing reputation. The Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO), the French government appellations body, will now distribute application forms to estates that wish to be considered for inclusion. The INAO has made the process clear, thorough and independent, and all chateaux will be made fully aware of what is involved before submitting their wines. The INAO is the French organisation charged with regulating French agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs). Controlled by the French government, it forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture. Every Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), the French term for PDO, is produced according to rules codified by the INAO. Because its primary purpose is to regulate the use of noteworthy names, one of its primary tasks is to delimit the geographic area entitled to produce a product. For “wine” this means “vineyards”, but the INAO also regulates the place of processing and/or aging.