PDO and PGI are EU quality schemes designed to protect the names and qualities of specific products, or to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin and traditions of knowledge and practice. The European Union’s food products regulations are designed to provide a clear structure for the production of organic products throughout the EU. The aim is to satisfy consumer demand for trustworthy products, while providing a fair market for producers, distributors and traders.
These labels are part of the EU’s long-term strategy to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how.
Product names can be given the label “Protected geographical indication” (PGI) if they have a specific reference to the place where they were produced. PGI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products, while helping producers to better market their products.
For a product to be labeled PDO, it must have the strongest connection with the place of cultivation and/or manufacture. Every part of production, from seed to growing, processing and preparation, must take place in the specified region.
Both the PDO and PGI seals are protected by European and national institutions and the rigorous compliance with production rules, to ensure the quality of the certified products to the consumers throughout their production and marketing.
The European Union also promotes organic production and food. Organic farming is beneficial as it is an agricultural method whose aim is to produce food using all natural substances and processes, without chemical poisons. It tends to have less negative impact on the environment, as it encourages responsible use of energy and natural resources, maintenance of biodiversity, preservation of regional ecological balances, improving soil fertility and maintaining water quality.
European wines from the region of Thracian lowlands are marked by PGI while wine with the label PDO come from 54 different towns and villages. Both white and red grape varieties are cultivated in the region, but red wines dominate considerably. The geographical conditions such as relatively high annual temperatures and suitable forest and sandy loam soils are extremely favorable for red wine grape varieties. The most widespread are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and, in some micro-regions, the emblematic variety Mavrud. The wines produced from these varieties are characterized by intense coloring, high density, intense aromas with a warm, southern character and considerable potential for long aging. Seek out the labels PGI or PDO to taste the highest quality wine from a specific EU region, and Enjoy – it’s from Europe!
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