What does AOC on a bottle of wine mean?

Answer 1

AOC stands for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée". It means that that wine, or cheese or other product is produced within strict geographical limits and has to abide a fixed set of rules (ingredients, forbidden ingredients, recipe). It must comply with a certain tasting characteristics. (ex: white wine from the Sancerre AOC and from the Pouilly AOC are made from the same grapes, sauvignon. The production areas are just a few kilometers apart. But any amateur can tell one from the other)

Each producer has to undergo an annual testing by a blind panel of testers for his products to bear the AOC. Products which do not comply with the typical taste of the local product cannot bear the AOC mark, even if their recipe, ingredients, area of production are correct.

Answer 2

It means Apellation Origin Controlee (or words to that effect - I'm not the world's greatest speller - en francaise - sorry !) Tells you the wine is genuine and of good quality.