Glossary:Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made with the fermented juice of grapes. This includes all types of wine made from fresh grapes, including sparkling, fortified and dessert wines.
The concept of EU quality wines is based on a geographical origin approach (quality wine produced in a specified region). Thus, the classification distinguishes between wines with Geographical indication (GI) and other wines. Wines with GI are further divided into wines with a Protected designation of origin (PDO) and wines with a Protected geographical indication (PGI). For a wine to have a PDO or a PGI, the grapes need to originate in vine areas which comply with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 and the corresponding national rules. Grapes should be classified in the category "PDO" or in the category "PGI", as long as they originate in vine areas which comply with the conditions established in the specifications of a given PDO or PGI, the maximum yield established in the specifications is not surpassed for the respective vine areas and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDO/PGI wines in a given year.
PDO wine must be produced exclusively with grapes from the area in question, while PGI wines can be made of up to 15% of grapes which do not comply with the above conditions. It is not enough that the grapes are grown in the geographical area of production of a given PDO/PGI, also the yields verified that year and analytical and/or organoleptic elements have to be respected.
If the grapes originate in areas which comply with the specifications of both PDO and PGI, the maximum yields are respected and the respective grower decides to use or market those grapes for the production of PDO and PGI wines in a given year, it shall be included only as "PDO" in order to avoid double counting.