Accepting gallons after returning every year for French wine (9)

I believe the answer is:

approving

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'accepting' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'gallons after returning every year for french wine' is the wordplay.
'gallons' becomes 'G' (abbreviation).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'returning every year for' becomes 'appro' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'french wine' becomes 'vin' ('wine' in French).
'appro'+'vin'='approvin'
'g' after 'approvin' is 'APPROVING'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for approving that I've seen before include "Giving the OK" , "Favourable" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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