Uncorking the Origins of Great Wine
As wine lovers celebrate International Wine Day, it’s a great time to look at something that goes beyond taste. Where does your wine come from? And why does that matter? For wine producers and legal experts alike, terms like Appellations of Origin (AOs) and Geographical Indications (GIs) are more than fancy labels. These are legal protections that ensure quality, tradition, and authenticity in every bottle.
What are GIs and AOs?
In simple terms, both GIs and AOs connect a wine to the place it was made, highlighting the qualities that come from that specific region of the world. A Geographical Indication shows that a product, like wine, comes from a specific area and owes its reputation or characteristics to that location. An Appellation of Origin is a type of GI with stricter rules, where the product’s qualities must be mostly or entirely due to its geographic environment, including nature and local production techniques.
Classification of Wine Origins in the EU
In the European Union, wines are further categorized under different labels. A Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) has the strictest requirements, meaning everything from growing the grapes to bottling the wine must happen in the named area. A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is a bit more flexible. Most of the grapes must come from the area, but not every production step has to take place there. For spirits like whisky or brandy, a GI means that at least one main part of the production must happen in the region mentioned.
Why do GIs and AOs matter?
These designations matter for several reasons. For consumers, they help build trust and make it easier to identify quality products that reflect their place of origin. For producers, GIs and AOs help them stand out in a competitive market, build their reputation, and often charge premium prices. Economically, protected names have been shown to boost exports. For example, studies on South African wine exports to the EU have shown that wines with protected GI names tend to perform better. Legally, these names are protected against misuse and imitation, especially in the EU and in countries with trade agreements. They also help support rural development and promote sustainable practices, which are increasingly important in today’s wine industry.
Moreover, a recent update to EU law, known as Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, came into effect in May 2024. It simplifies and strengthens the GI system by creating a single set of rules for wine, spirits, and food. It also improves protection online, such as against misuse in website domain names, and gives more power to producer groups to manage and enforce their geographical indications.
Conclusion
Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications are much more than just names on a label. They are a promise of quality and authenticity. On International Wine Day, they remind us why that glass of wine from Bordeaux, Napa, or Stellenbosch tastes exactly the way it should, because of where it comes from.
Sources:
https://www.oiv.int/standards/international-standard-for-the-labelling-of-wines/part-ii-compulsory-information/compulsory-information/appellation-of-origin-or-geographical-indication
Lubinga, M.H., Ngqangweni, S., Van der Walt, S., Potelwa, Y., Nyhodo, B., Phaleng, L. and Ntshangase, T. (2021), “Geographical indications in the wine industry: does it matter for South Africa?”, International Journal of Wine Business Research, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-06-2019-0041