01. AOC cheeses

An AOC cheese (‘Appellations d’origine contrôlée’ meaning ‘protected designation of origin’) is a product which is identified by its authenticity and its geographocal origin. An AOC cheese guarentees quality, certain characteristics, an area of origin, a savoir-faire method of production, precendence and the notoriety of the name which is so old that it can not be patented.

In France, the classification of an AOC cheese is laid out in the specifications drawn up by the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) according to the Minister for Agriculture.

The objective for these signs of quality is to make them recognisable. The AOC cheese is either marked on the heel (using food safe ink or printing) or there is a ticket or badge made from casein. The ticket of an AOC cheeses indicates a number and the certifying body. The colour of the badge indicates the classification: green for farm made cheeses and red for dairy made cheeses.

Here is the list of the 45 cheeses which benefit from the ‘appellation d’origine controlee française’ (French designation of origin), and the date when the were classified:

AOC Ewe’s milk cheeses
Ossau-Iraty , 1980
Brocciu , 1998
Roquefort, 1925

AOC Goat’s milk cheeses
Banon , 2003   
Chabichou du Poitou  , 1990
Chevrotin , 2002
Crottin de Chavignol , 1976
Mâconnais  , 2006
Pélardon , 2000
Picodon, 1983
Pouligny-Saint-Pierre , 1972
Rigotte de Condrieu , 2008
Rocamadour , 1996
Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine ,1990
Selles-Sur-Cher  , depuis  1975
Valencay , 1998

AOC Cow’s milk cheeses
Abondance , 1990
Beaufort  , 1968
Bleu d'Auvergne 1975
Bleu de Gex , 1977
Bleu des Causses  , 1991
Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage , 1998
Brie de Meaux , 1980
Brie de Melun  1980
Camembert de Normandie , 1983
Cantal  , 1956
Chaource  , 1970
Comté , 1958
Epoisses , 1991
Fourme d'Ambert , 1972
Fourme de Montbrison , 1972
Laguiole , 1961
Langres  , 1991
Livarot  1975
Maroilles , 1976
Mont d'Or , 1981
Morbier , 2000
Munster, 1969
Coeur de Neufchâtel , 1969
Pont L'Evêque , 1972
Reblochon de Savoie, 1958
Saint-Nectaire , 1955
Salers ,    1961
Tome des Bauges , 2002

To bring together a European designation of origin, the logo AOP became obligatory from the 1st May 2009. This replaced the French AOC logo. In this way, all of the designations of origin of the European countries are under the same logo, which facilitates their identification.