Morocco

Morocco is an ancient kingdom in the northwestern corner of Africa, shaped over the centuries by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and various modern European powers, and it remains a gateway between Europe and the African continent. Morocco's viti-vinicultural heritage includes 14 Appellations d'Origine Garantie (AOG) and 3 Appellations d'Origine Controlee (AOC): one for still wines called 'Les Coteaux de l'Atlas,' one for traditional-method sparkling wines called 'Cremant de l'Atlas,' and a newer AOC called 'Les Cotes de Rommani.'

• Appellation d'Origine labels mark Moroccan wines from delimited geographic areas
• 14 AOG zones and 3 AOC designations recognized
• Morocco remains a gateway between Europe and Africa
• Three AOCs: Les Coteaux de l'Atlas, Cremant de l'Atlas, and Les Cotes de Rommani

Morocco's wine history reaches back to the Romans, likely the first to make wine there on any scale, though the earliest evidence of viticulture predates them; production then slowed during centuries of Islamic dominance. France established a protectorate over Morocco in 1912 under the Treaty of Fez, with Spain granted zones of interest in the north and south. When Morocco regained independence in 1956, tens of thousands of hectares of productive vineyards lost the expertise of their French creators. Eventually, almost every Moroccan vineyard had either been taken over by the state or dug up and replaced with cereal crops. King Hassan II (d. 1999), a graduate of the University of Bordeaux, spent a decade campaigning to revive overseas interest in Morocco's vineyard potential, and by July 1999 large French wine companies were planting vineyard hectares.

• Roman-era viticulture followed by a slowdown under Islamic dominance
• France established a protectorate over Morocco in 1912 under the Treaty of Fez
• 1956 independence left tens of thousands of hectares of vineyards without their French creators' expertise
• King Hassan II (d. 1999), a University of Bordeaux graduate, campaigned for a decade to revive overseas interest in Moroccan vineyards

The Appellation d'Origine label is a quality mark attributed to Moroccan wines produced within delimited geographic areas. For each viti-vinicultural campaign, three attribution sessions are held: 'Primeur' in October-November, 'Exceptionnel' in December-January (held only on a motivated request from the Association des Producteurs de Raisin au Maroc, ASPRAM), and 'Pleine saison' in March-April. The governing texts include Decret no. 2.75.321 of 12 August 1977 on winemaking, holding, circulation and trade of wines; Arrete of the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform no. 869-75 of 15 August 1977 on the regime of wine appellations of origin; Arrete no. 1955-98 of 8 October 1998 on general production conditions for AOC wines; Arrete no. 1957-98 of 8 October 1998 on the AOC 'Les Coteaux de l'Atlas'; Arrete no. 352-09 of 12 February 2009 on the AOC 'Cremant de l'Atlas'; and Arrete no. 250-14 on the AOC 'Les Cotes de Rommani.' Producers and cooperatives seeking an Appellation d'Origine label must submit an application following a defined model. A separate order, no. 815-04 of 29 chaabane 1425 (14 October 2004), concerns the Controlled Designation of Origin 'Castle'.

• Appellation d'Origine label attributed in three annual sessions: Primeur, Exceptionnel, and Pleine saison
• Exceptionnel session requires a motivated request from ASPRAM, the Association des Producteurs de Raisin au Maroc
• Decret no. 2.75.321 of 12 August 1977 regulates winemaking, holding, circulation and trade of wines
• Order no. 815-04 of 14 October 2004 concerns the Controlled Designation of Origin 'Castle'

Morocco is divided into five wine regions holding a total of 14 AOG zones: the East (Berkane, Angad and Beni Sadden AOGs), Meknes/Fes (Guerrouane, Beni M'tir, Saiss and Zerhoune AOGs), the Northern Plain (Gharb AOG), Rabat/Casablanca (Chellah, Zemmour, Zaer, Sahel and Zenatta AOGs), and El-Jadida (Doukkala AOG). Wine-Searcher places Morocco's finest terroir in the Meknes region, midway between the peaks of the Middle Atlas and the Atlantic coast. The region has a relatively balanced climate, sheltered from both the Sahara and the ocean, though August temperatures there regularly approach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). A Domaine des Ouled Thaleb Syrah from Thalvin carries the region label Zenata.

• Meknes/Fes region includes the Guerrouane, Beni M'tir, Saiss and Zerhoune AOGs
• Rabat/Casablanca region includes the Chellah, Zemmour, Zaer, Sahel and Zenatta AOGs
• Meknes terroir is sheltered from both the Sahara and the ocean, though August temperatures regularly near 40C (104F)
• A Domaine des Ouled Thaleb Syrah from Thalvin carries the region label Zenata

The vast majority of Morocco's roughly 50,000 hectares (123,552 acres) of vineyard is planted to red grape varieties. Initial plantings in the late 1990s consisted primarily of Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsaut and Grenache, along with local indigenous varieties such as Abbou, Doukkali and Maticha. These have since been joined by the 'cepages ameliorateurs' (improver varieties) Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, reflecting strong French influence on the Moroccan wine industry. Small amounts of white wine are made from Chenin Blanc and the southern French varieties Muscat and Clairette, and Sauvignon Blanc, a variety that prefers cooler climates, is also grown in increasing volumes, as is Chardonnay.

• Roughly 50,000 hectares (123,552 acres) of vineyard, mostly red varieties
• Initial plantings: Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsaut and Grenache, plus indigenous Abbou, Doukkali and Maticha
• 'Cepages ameliorateurs' Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot reflect French influence
• White varieties include Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Morocco's notable producers include Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, Chateau Roslane, Domaine du Val d'Argan, Les Celliers de Meknes, Domaine de la Zouina and Zniber Vineyards. Wine-Searcher's database, aggregating critics' scores, ranks a Domaine des Ouled Thaleb Red Blend as the best wine produced in Morocco. Wine-Searcher calls the Moroccan wine industry consistent and well-established despite operating within a relatively conservative Muslim country. Its long winemaking history is in revival, driven by an influx of foreign investment. A Les Celliers de Meknes Chateau Roslane red carries the region label Les Coteaux de l'Atlas.

• Notable producers: Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, Chateau Roslane, Domaine du Val d'Argan, Les Celliers de Meknes, Domaine de la Zouina, Zniber Vineyards
• Wine-Searcher calls the industry consistent and well-established; foreign investment is driving a revival
• A Chateau Roslane red carries the region label Les Coteaux de l'Atlas

Primary sources: https://www.onssa.gov.ma/approvals-and-quality-labels/obtaining-the-guaranteed-aog-and-controlled-aoc-label-of-origin-for-wines/?lang=en, https://www.onssa.gov.ma/alcoholic-drinks/?lang=en. Secondary source: https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-morocco. Last verified 2026-10-05