My French Wine Quest: Enjoying 300 AOC French Wines In 5 Years

I love the idea of challenges, quests, and goals; let’s apply that to wine. My quest is to drink wine from three hundred AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) wine appellations of France. There are more than three hundred and sixty AOC wine regions, by my estimate, so I’ll have some flexibility. I’ll use this post as the central hub for my quest. Before listing out the wines I’ve had, I’ll answer a few common questions.

Why Did You Start This Wine Quest?

As I write this post, I’m in full Francophile mode. I have a breakfast of croissant and French press coffee sitting next to me. The idea for the wine quest came to me in the dark days of the COVID pandemic. I wanted a way to explore the world – to travel by glass! – without leaving home. Through the lengthy lockdown, I’ve been studying French via Duolingo every day as well. I thought it would be fun to combine my interest in wine and French culture all in one place.

Why Are You Focusing On AOC Wines?

There are multiple ways to classify wine, and France has been classifying their wine production into quality levels since the 19th century. As I understand it, AOC is the pinnacle of French wine quality, so it made sense to focus my time and energy on the best wines France has to offer. Of course, there are downsides to this focus: expense and availability. I’m not sure how many French wines at this level are available in Ontario, Canada. Further, wine expense may become a challenge. During some informal research recently, it looked like many AOC wines at nearby stores cost over $100.

Still, these challenges are welcome. If the quest was too easy, then it could hardly be called a quest! If Frodo could have destroyed the Ring in a week, the story would have fallen flat.

Will There Be Wine Reviews?

Yes! I plan to write up a short review (like the chateau lamarzelle cormey review) of each wine review as I go through the quest. Given my level of wine expertise, don’t expect a Robert Parker-style review here. Instead, I’ll share my impressions. When possible, I also plan to share a few observations about the region and how it connects to the broader context of French wine regions.

When Will You Finish The Wine Quest?

Given the challenges of availability and expense, I expect it will take years to finish this quest. A visit or two to France will probably be involved before I get to the end. As this site grows, I may pick up the pace, especially when visiting a well-stocked wine bar and having a tasting flight. I expect that this wine quest (including reviews like this one: lequilbre wine review) may take up to five years to complete if everything goes smoothly . You’re welcome to join me!

AOC Wine Quest List

To build my list, I’ve used the list from the Terroir-France to build out my list. Over time, I’ll add details when I completed each item. In April 2021, I’ve started with a wine from Bordeaux and one from Burgundy. I expect to focus more on those regions because they are easier to find. However, the quest will not be limited to those wine regions.

Region: Alsace

ALSACE CHASSELAS OU GUTEDEL

ALSACE GEWURZTRAMINER

ALSACE GRAND CRU

ALSACE MUSCAT

ALSACE PINOT NOIR

ALSACE PINOT OU KLEVNER

ALSACE RIESLING

ALSACE SYLVANER

ALSACE TOKAY-PINOT GRIS

CREMANT D’ALSACE

Region: Beaujolais

BEAUJOLAIS

BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES

BEAUJOLAIS SUPERIEUR (new)

BROUILLY

CHENAS

CHIROUBLES

COTE DE BROUILLY

COTEAUX DU LYONNAIS (LYONNAIS)

FLEURIE

JULIENAS

MORGON

MOULIN A VENT

REGNIE

SAINT-AMOUR

Region: Bordeaux

BARSAC

BLAYE

BORDEAUX

BORDEAUX CLAIRET

BORDEAUX COTES DE FRANCS

BORDEAUX ROSE

BORDEAUX SEC

BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR

CADILLAC

CANON-FRONSAC

CERONS

CREMANT DE BORDEAUX

COTES DE BLAYE

COTES DE BOURG

COTES DE CASTILLON

ENTRE-DEUX-MERS

FRONSAC

GRAVES

GRAVES DE VAYRES

GRAVES SUPERIEURES

HAUT-MEDOC

LALANDE DE POMEROL

LISTRAC-MEDOC

LOUPIAC

MARGAUX

MEDOC

MONTAGNE SAINT-EMILION

MOULIS EN MEDOC

PAUILLAC

PESSAC LEOGNAN

POMEROL

PREMIERES COTES DE BORDEAUX

PREMIERES COTES DE BLAYE

PUISSEGUIN SAINT-EMILION

SAINT-EMILION

SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU

SAINT-ESTEPHE

SAINT-GEORGES SAINT-EMILION

SAINT-JULIEN

SAINTE-CROIX-DU-MONT

SAINTE-FOIX-BORDEAUX

SAUTERNES

Region: Burgundy

ALOXE-CORTON

AUXEY-DURESSES

BATARD-MONTRACHET

BEAUNE

BIENVENUE BATARD-MONTRACHET

BLAGNY

BONNES-MARES

BOURGOGNE

BOURGOGNE ALIGOTE

BOURGOGNE ALIGOTE BOUZERON

BOURGOGNE CHITRY

BOURGOGNE CLARET

BOURGOGNE COTE CHALONNAISE

BOURGOGNE COTE SAINT-JACQUES

BOURGOGNE COTES D’AUXERRE

BOURGOGNE COTES DU COUCHOIS

BOURGOGNE COULANGES-LA-VINEUSE

BOURGOGNE EPINEUIL

BOURGOGNE GRAND ORDINAIRE

BOURGOGNE HAUTES-COTES DE NUITS

BOURGOGNE HAUTES-COTES DE BEAUNE – Tasted April 2021: Hautes Côtes de Beaune (Burgundy, France)

BOURGOGNE LA CHAPELLE NOTRE-DAME

BOURGOGNE LE CHAPITRE

BOURGOGNE MONTRECUL

BOURGOGNE MOUSSEUX

BOURGOGNE PASSETOUTGRAIN

BOURGOGNE VEZELAY

CHABLIS

CHABLIS GRAND CRU

CHABLIS PREMIER CRU

CHAMBERTIN

CHAMBERTIN-CLOS DE BEZE

CHAPELLE-CHAMBERTIN

CHARMES-CHAMBERTIN

CHAMBOLLE MUSIGNY

CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET

CHEVALIER-MONTRACHET

CHOREY-LES-BEAUNE

CLOS DE LA ROCHE

CLOS DE TART

CLOS DE VOUGEOT

CLOS DES LAMBRAYS

CLOS SAINT-DENIS

CORTON

CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE

COTE DE BEAUNE BLANC

COTE DE BEAUNE

COTE DE BEAUNE VILLAGES

COTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES

CREMEANT DE BOURGOGNE

CRIOTS BATARD-MONTRACHET

ECHEZEAUX

FIXIN

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN

GIVRY

GRANDS-ECHEZEAUX

GRIOTTE-CHAMBERTIN

IRANCY

LA TACHE

LADOIX

LA GRANDE RUE

LA ROMANEE

LATRICIERES-CHAMBERTIN

MACON

MACON SUPERIEUR

MACON-VILLAGES

MARANGES

MARSANNAY

MAZIS-CHAMBERTIN

MAZOYERES-CHAMBERTIN

MERCUREY

MEURSAULT

MONTAGNY

MONTHELIE

MONTRACHET

MOREY-SAINT-DENIS

NUIT-SAINT-GEORGES

PERNAND-VERGELESSES

PETIT CHABLIS

POMMARD

POUILLY-FUISSE

POUILLY-LOCHE

POUILLY-VINZELLES

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET

RICHEBOURG

ROMANEE-CONTI

ROMANEE-SAINT-VIVANT

RUCHOTTES-CHAMBERTIN

RULLY

SAINT-AUBIN

SAINT-BRIS

SAINT-ROMAIN

SAINT-VERAN

SANTENAY

SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNE

VIRE-CLESSE

VOLNAY

VOSNE-ROMANEE

VOUGEOT

Region: Côtes du Rhône

BEAUMES DE VENISE

CHATEAU-GRILLET

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

CLAIRETTE DE DIE

CONDRIEU

CORNAS

COTE ROTIE

COTEAUX DE PIERREVERT

COTEAUX DU TRICASTIN

COTES DU LUBERON

COTES DU RHONE

COTES DU RHONE-VILLAGES

COTES DU VENTOUX

COTES DU VIVARAIS AOVDQS

CROZES-HERMITAGE

GIGONDAS

HERMITAGE

LIRAC

MUSCAT DE BEAUMES-DE-VENISE

SAINT-JOSEPH

SAINT PERAY

TAVEL

VACQUEYRAS

VINSOBRES (new)

Region: Languedoc Roussillon

BANYULS

BANYULS GRAND CRU

BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX

CABARDES AOVDQS

CLAIRETTE DE BELLEGARDE

CLAIRETTE DU LANGUEDOC

COLLIOURE

CORBIERES

COSTIERES DE NIMES

COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOC

COTES DE LA MALEPERE

COTES DU ROUSSILLON

COTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES

FAUGERES

FITOU

LIMOUX

MAURY

MINERVOIS

MUSCAT DE LUNEL

MUSCAT DE MIREVAL

MUSCAT DE RIVESALTES

MUSCAT DE SAINT-JEAN DE MINERVOIS

PICPOUL DE PINET

RIVESALTES

SAINT-CHINIAN

Region: Loire

ANJOU

ANJOU-COTEAUX DE LA LOIRE

ANJOU-GAMAY

ANJOU-VILLAGES

BONNEZEAUX

BOURGUEIL

CABERNET D’ANJOU

CHATEAUMEILLANT AOVDQS

CHEVERNY

CHAUME

CHINON

COTE ROANNAISE

COTEAUX D’ANCENIS

COTEAUX DE L’AUBANCE

COTEAUX DU GIENNOIS AOVDQS

COTEAUX DU LAYON

COTEAUX DU LOIR

COTEAUX DU VENDOMOIS AOVDQS

COTES D’AUVERGNE AOVDQS

COTES DU FOREZ AOVDQS

COUR-CHEVERNY

FIEFS VENDEENS AOVDQS

GROS PLANT AOVDQS

HAUT-POITOU AOVDQS

JASNIERES

MENETOU-SALON

MONTLOUIS

MUSCADET

MUSCADET COTES DE GRAND-LIEU

MUSCADET DE SEVRE-ET-MAINE

MUSCADET DES COTEAUX DE LA LOIRE

QUARTS DE CHAUME

POUILLY-FUME

POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE

QUINCY

REUILLY

ROSE DE LOIRE

ROSE D’ANJOU

SAINT-NICOLAS-DE-BOURGUEIL

SAINT-POURCAIN AOVDQS

SANCERRE

SAUMUR

SAUMUR SEC BLANC

SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY

SAVENNIERES

SAVENNIERES COULEE-DE-SERRANT

SAVENNIERES ROCHES-AUX-MOINES

TOURAINE

TOURAINE AMBOISE

TOURAINE-AZAY-LE-RIDEAU

TOURAINE-MESLAND

VALENCAY AOVDQS

VOUVRAY

Region: Provence and Corsica

BANDOL

BELLET

CASSIS

COTEAUX D’AIX

COTEAUX VAROIS EN PROVENCE

COTES DE PROVENCE

PALETTE

Corse :

AJACCIO

MUSCAT DU CAP CORSE

PATRIMONIO

VIN DE CORSE

Region: South West

BEARN

BERGERAC

BERGERAC SEC

BUZET

CAHORS

COTES DE BERGERAC

COTES DE BERGERAC MOELLEUX

COTES DE DURAS

COTES DE SAINT-MONT AOVDQS

COTES DU MARMANDAIS

FRONTON (FORMER COTES DU FRONTONNAIS)

GAILLAC

HAUT-MONTRAVEL

IROULEGUY

JURANCON

JURANCON SEC

MADIRAN

MARCILLAC

MONBAZILLAC

MONTRAVEL

PACHERENC DU VIC-BILH

PECHARMANT

SAUSSIGNAC

TURSAN AOVDQS

Region: Others

ARBOIS (JURA)

ARBOIS PUPILLIN (JURA)

BUGEY AOVDQS

CHATEAU-CHALON (JURA)

CHAMPAGNE

COTEAUX CHAMPENOIS (CHAMPAGNE)

ROSE DES RICEYS (CHAMPAGNE)

COTES DE TOUL AOVDQS (EST)

MOSELLE AOVDQS (EST)

COTES DU JURA

CREMANT DU JURA

L’ETOILE (JURA)

PINEAU DES CHARENTES

ROUSSETTE DE SAVOIE

My French Wine Quest: Enjoying 300 AOC French Wines In 5 Years
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