Authorities in France have approved four new appellations, which should take effect within the next few months.

According to Wine Spectator, the AOC Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire appellation will be rechristened as Coteaux Bourgignons and wines from the Cotes de Nuit and Cotes de Beaune areas will be called Bourgogne Cote d'Or.

Meanwhile, the Coteaux de Tricastin appellation near Chateauneuf-du-Pape will be renamed Grignon Les Adhemar and dry reds labelled Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages will be shortened to simply Rasteau.

"Nobody markets wine under the existing appellation anymore as it doesn't have a good ring to it," Pierre-Henry Gagey, managing director of Louis Jadot in the new Coteaux Bourgignons appellation told the publication.

Coteaux de Tricastin's name change was prompted by a uranium leak at the Tricastin nuclear power plant, which damaged sales of the area's wines.

It follows news that the incoming president of the Bordeaux Wine Council has announced a dramatic reduction in the number of low-cost wines the region produces.