AOC

AOC, or Appellation d’Origin Contrôlée, is the French regulation system for wines, cheeses, and other agricultural products that grants them regional protection. For example, for a cheese to be officially named Roquefort, it must be aged in the caves of Roquefort-su-Soulzon according to a specific set of standards. DOP, or Denominazione d’Origine Protetta, is the Italian equivalent, and DO, or Denominación de Origen, is the Spanish equivalent, though no other system is as comprehensive as the French AOC.