What is the French equivalent of PDO?

The French equivalent of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is indeed AOC/AOP. In France, AOC stands for "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée," which translates to "Controlled Designation of Origin." This classification ensures that the wine adheres to strict regulations regarding its production methods, grape varieties, and geographical boundaries, similar to the PDO system used throughout the European Union.

The term AOP, or "Appellation d'Origine Protégée," is essentially the updated terminology that aligns with EU regulations, but it carries the same meaning and functions as the AOC. Both terms serve to protect the heritage and authenticity of French wines, highlighting their unique characteristics that arise from specific terroirs.

The other options listed represent different wine classification systems from other countries. DOC and DOCG are Italian terms where DOC stands for "Denominazione di Origine Controllata" and DOCG is "Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita," used in Italy to denote quality and origin. DO and DOCa are terms used in Spain, with DO standing for "Denominación de Origen" and DOCa representing "Denominación de Origen Calificada." Qualitätswein is a German term