Like most French wines, Calvados is governed by appellation contrôlée regulations. The "Appellation Calvados contrôlée" area includes all of the Calvados, Manche, and Orne départements, plus parts of Eure, Mayenne, Sarthe, and Eure-et-Loire. The more restrictive "Appellation Calvados Pays d'Auge contrôlée" area is limited to the east end of Calvados département, plus a few adjoining districts.
Calvados should be aged in oak for several years before bottling - look for the phrases "vieilli en chêne" and "vieilli en fûts de chêne".