What does AOP mean?
AOP, Appellation d'Origine Protégée, is the EU name for a protected designation of origin in France and in practice means the same as AOC.
Also known as: Appellation d'Origine Protégée, PDO
AOP stands for Appellation d'Origine Protégée and is the French form of the EU's protected designation of origin. For wine, AOP in practice means the same as AOC: the wine comes from a defined area and follows that area's rules on grapes, farming and winemaking.
The difference is that AOC is the French national designation, while AOP is the shared EU term introduced into wine law in 2009. Producers may use either on the label, and a growing number use AOP. The rules for each appellation, such as Sancerre, Chablis or Côtes du Rhône, are the same whichever abbreviation appears.
The equivalent is DOP in Italy, Spain and Portugal and PDO in English. AOP is also used for other foods with a protected origin, such as cheese and butter. The requirement is that the raw material comes entirely from the area and the product is made there.
Below AOP sits IGP, the protected geographical indication with looser rules, and at the base wine without a geographical indication, such as Vin de France.