France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and American wine-producing regions. Appellation rules (Appellation d'Origin Protégée (AOP) system) defines the approved variety of grape and winemaking practices throughout France's several hundred regions, villages or vineyards. France is the source of many international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah.