AS A LEADER IN QUALITY WINE PRODUCTION, FRANCE WAS AMONGST THE FIRST TO DESIGNATE PROTECTED WINE GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES OF ORIGIN, OR WINE APPELLATIONS. TODAY, FRANCE HAS OVER 450 WINE APPELLATIONS, OR AOC (APPELLATIONS D’ORIGINE CONTRÔLÉE), WHICH REGULATE FACTORS SUCH AS WINEMAKING AND WINE LABELING PRACTICES. FRENCH WINES ARE MADE IN THE TRADITION OF THE REGION IN WHICH THEY COME FROM AND ARE OFTEN LABELED AS SUCH (E.G., CHAMPAGNE, BORDEAUX, ETC.).