6-24. Should the U.S. government adopt an AOC system to ensure the quality of U.S. wines destined for export markets? Wine is one of mankind’s oldest and most important industries.

Archaeological evidence of wine production dates back to 6000 b.c.e. Hieroglyphics from 3000 b.c.e. depict Egyptians enjoying celebratory cups of wine. The Bible records Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana.

Today, some 18.5 million acres of land are devoted to vineyards, which yield 26 billion liters of wine annually.

The EU produces about 60 percent of this output, with France, Italy, and Spain accounting for the bulk of the EU’s production. The United States, Argentina, and Australia are the largest non-European producers.

Until the 1980s, French vineyards were the dominant force in the global wine trade, with Italy, Spain, and Germany trailing behind them.