France is the standard bearer for all the world's wines, with regard to the types of grapes that are used to make wine and with the system of defining and regulating winemaking. Its Appellation d'Origine Controlee, or AOC system, is the legislative model for most other European countries. Most French wines are named after places. The system is hierarchical; generally the smaller and more specific the region for which a wine is named, the higher its rank.

A common name for the varied array of vineyards of southern France spreading from Marseille to the Spanish border. Languedoc-Roussillon lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is Frances most valued wine region in regards to volume of wine produced. Most famous for the Vin de Pays D'Oc, which are quickly providing France's answer to full flavored, well priced, varietally labeled wines.