The European Union (EU) is a collection of 27 countries spanning 1.5 million square miles with 446 million inhabitants and 24 languages. The alliance of these 27 countries has had numerous advantages, including a single unified market where goods, food, and services can move freely between member states. Behind Mexico and Canada, the EU is the third-largest exporter of agricultural and agri-food products consumed in the US. Products produced in the EU not only have a long cultural history steeped in culinary tradition, but are held to rigorous standards denoted by a specially developed set of EU Quality Labels designed to assure consumers are not only getting a top-caliber product, but to also inform them about the product’s background.
The diverse member states of the EU share common food and farming standards that embrace food and worker safety regulations, ensure a high quality product, emphasize sustainability practices, and guarantee a product’s authenticity. The EU Quality Labels denote the specific place or region a product originated from and its certified organic status where applicable.
Understanding hows and whys of the labeling categories of products from the EU can help you make more informed choices when choosing these products. The EU’s Quality Label system protects producers and consumers against counterfeit products, and the certifications ensure consumer confidence in products that come from specific areas. These products must pass through strict, validated standards of quality, safety, authenticity, and sustainability.
Of utmost importance, EU Quality Labels support local economies and help maintain traditional production techniques. The validation and protection of these products supports small-scale local producers and fosters biodiversity and rural development. Products with EU Quality Label certifications are recognized for their superior quality, which can also lead to a product’s producer earning a better living.
From Diverse Regions, EU Sparkling Wines Showcase their Origins
The EU’s sparkling wines are all produced according to these quality standards, categorized with the various labels described above. Produced all over the EU, sparkling wines from member states are examples of the products that within these special designations, reflect the terroir and region they come from. The labels help tell the stories of the place and also the people who produce them. That is because beyond labels and regulations, agricultural products from the European Union represent the shared history of generations of people who have dedicated their lives to producing a high quality product that represents their homeland and the communities who make it.
Europe is the birthplace of sparkling wine, setting the benchmark for those produced around the world. Bubbly is typically associated with holidays and celebrations, but wine regions across Europe produce exciting sparklers that make every day seem special. They are produced in varied terroirs with a range of varietals, resulting in a vast scope of styles and flavor profiles.
Protected Designation of Origin: The EU Quality Label Linking Product to Place
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) are products for which every step of production, processing, and preparation take place within a specific designated geographical region, which signifies those with the strongest links to their place of origin. These products exhibit unique characteristics and qualities that are inextricably linked to the place they’re produced.
PDO sparkling wines must follow strict guidelines. The grapes must be grown and the wine produced, processed, and prepared within the designated area. The wines must be made using specific traditional methods, including aging. PDO sparkling wines are protected against the misuse or imitation of their names and their quality must comply with EU regulations. Common examples of PDO sparkling wines include French Champagne, Italian Prosecco and Asti Spumante, Spanish Cava, and Austrian Sékt.
For example, in Austria’s Kamptal winemaking region, Loimer is a small family-owned and operated biodynamic and regenerative winery that is designated both with the European Organic Label and with the PDO label. Winemaker Fred Loimer took over his family’s winery in the late 1990s, modernizing a traditional winemaking operation with new varietals, a shift to organic and biodynamic growing methods, and the construction of an ultra-modern cube-shaped cellar. The region is known for its white wines, among them Loimer’s line of highly-regarded Sekt Austria Reserve and Grosse Reserve sparkling wines made using the traditional method featuring long lees aging. The area has steep slopes, cool nights, and well-draining soils that add a vibrant acidity to its wines. Along with refined bubbles, they have refreshing, crisp orchard fruit notes like apple and pear and a clean, bright finish.
Protected Geographical Indication: An EU Quality Label Representing a Region
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are products with distinctive qualities that are intrinsically linked to a specific geographical region. At least one stage of production, procession, or preparation must take place within the designated region, guaranteeing that the product’s identity is deeply connected to its place of origin. These wines still adhere to strict quality standards, but have more lenient production regulations than PDO wines.
The grapes used to make PGI wines are grown within a broader geographical area and may use a wider range of grape varieties and winemaking techniques. PGI wines highlight an area’s regional character but allow for flexibility in production and diversity in style. In France, IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) regions include Pays d’Oc and Côtes de Gascogne, in Italy, IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) wines include those from the Toscana IGT and Veneto IGT regions, and in Spain, PGI wines include VdlT (Vino de la Tierra) wines, like Vino de la Tierra de Castilla and Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura.
IGT wines can be extremely prestigious. In Italy, for example, the PGI designation allows winemakers in the Tosacana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) to take advantage of the region’s versatility to produce premium “Super-Tuscan” wines outside of the region’s strictest production rules for wines from any of Tuscany’s ten provinces. Vallepicciola winery, owned and operated by the Bolfo family on the site of a historic monastery, where they also run a hotel and produce olive oil. The winery produces a range of red and white wines, including a line of rose and white sparkling wines, some of which are produced using the traditional method and others using the charmat (tank) method.
Organic Certification Means More Sustainable Products
The European Organic Label is given to products that are produced in harmony with nature, minimize their impact on ecosystems, and promote animal welfare. These products are held to the highest environmental and ethical standards and are produced according to rigorous standards that signify a real commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. An organic designation can be given alongside PDO and PGI labels, since PDO and PGI labels are connected to the place and process of production. Organic certifications will depend on the wine’s producer.
European Organic labels will not appear on products found in the US because the EU and US do not have a full equivalence agreement for organic wine production standards. Though wines imported to the US will not have a European Organic Label on it, the winemaker may themselves indicate that the wine was made using organic grapes, despite not being labeled as such. In this case, the grapes were grown according to European organic farming practices, even if the US wine labeling does not permit use of the European Organic Label.
The use of organic grapes is a reflection of the farming methods that avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which better supports biodiversity, soil health, and sustainability. Organic farming allows the natural characteristics of the grapes and terroir to be expressed more clearly in the wine’s taste.
For instance, Protner winery is certified with the European Organic label and is part of the Slovenian PDO. Located in the Štajerska Slovenija (Slovenien Styria) wine region, the eponymous winery is run by Boštjan and Mojka Protner and their children, and offers a unique guest experience that gives visitors a chance to experience grape to bottle production by staying on the vineyard and farm at their small inn. They grow organic fruits and vegetables on their farm as well as produce homemade delicacies like grilled sausage, deer salami, freshly baked bread and sweet cheese pastry, all of which are used at their on-site restaurant. Their award-winning organic sparkling wine, Penina, is a delightful accompaniment to their home-cooked meals.
Because of this cross-regional, European effort for labeling standards, consumers can be sure that every product with an EU Quality System label reflects where it comes from and how it’s made. This is an indication of its excellence, commitment to sustainability, production safety practices, and authenticity. Every sip of a sparkling wine imported from the EU is so much more than simply delicious, they literally bubble up with personal history.
This article is sponsored by More Than Food US.
