Raise a glass to the Tastes of Europe

The EU’s “Tastes of Europe” wine tasting workshop was held in Beijing

Beijing, September 23, 2015 – Today, a notable wine tasting workshop organised by the “Tastes of Europe” campaign was held at L’Isola, an Italian restaurant in Beijing. Professional sommeliers introduced the characteristicsand the unique production processes of the certified high-quality red wine, white wine and sparkling wine from Europe. The workshop was part of the European Union (EU)’s “Tastes of Europe” campaign, which kicked off earlier this spring,to promote products from Europe with a Geographical Indication (GI): Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) andProtected Geographical Indication (PGI).

This was not only a wine tasting event,but also a celebration of European history and culture. The production methods of harvesting, crushing, and fermenting grapes as well as wine packaging have been passed down from generation to generation, leading to the development of each region’s characteristic wine flavours and colours. Mr.Nicolas Dandois, Counsellor for Agriculture in the Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia said: “From nouveau wines to legendary drops intended to be aged for decades in the cellar, the continent’s rich wine-producing heritage is universally revered. Wine and the production of wine have been influencing European culture and traditions over many centuries. In fact, Europe has more than 1,700 exclusive wines registered withPDO or PGI labels.”

A comprehensive interpretation of European wines

Rustic vineyards and lavish wine manors are the picturesque images commonly associated with European wines.This wine tasting event provided guests with an opportunity tolearn more about European wines and gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique characteristics each wine carries.

This exciting wine testing experience started with a sparkling wine registered under PDOProsecco from Italy. Participants were impressed with its mildtaste,fruity fragranceand enjoyed the sommelierTony Zhe’s passionate presentation.

Following the sparkling wine, high-quality white wines with a fruity fragrance were presented to the guests, including wines registered under PDO Xynisteri from Cyprus, PGI Venezie Giulia from Italy,PGI Jylland from Denmark and a registered PDO Sherry from Spain thatwas even praised by Shakespeare as “outfit in the bottle of Spanish sunshine” for its vigorous and sweet taste.

The last wines presented to the audience were red wines, including a wines registered as PDOBordeaux from France, and PDO Rioja from Spain. This was followed by fortified wines, such as wines registered under PDO Sherry from Spain. The tannic acid of the red wines paired well with the delicate canapés, concluding the evening event.

Currently, there are over 1,700 wines registered with a GI label (including PDO and PGI). The high quality of European wines is closely related to their place of origin. Therefore, GI certified wines are becoming increasingly more popular and readilyavailable in China.

  • Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) — The PDO label identifies a particular wine that originates in a specific town, region or country, that has qualities or characteristics that are particularly linked to the place of origin through inherent natural or human factors, and which is produced, processed and prepared in the defined geographical area.

PDO winesare linked with territory, so they must be produced, processed and prepared in a specific region using traditional production methods. The quality or characteristics of the product are due essentially or exclusively to its place or origin, i.e. climate, the nature of the soil and local know-how — a sense of place apparent in the flavour of the food.

  • Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) — The PGI label identifies winesoriginating in a specific place, region or country which are recognised for their quality, reputation and other characteristics closely linked to the defined geographical area. The PGI name also marks the products as being produced and/or processed in the area in question. Famous examples include Prosecco from Italy and Jylland from Denmark.

While for PDO wines the quality is strongly linked to the origin, such immediate nexus does not have to be established for the product to earn the PGI protection. It is sufficient that a product’s reputation, or a given quality or other characteristic are essentially attributable to a designated geographic area. The connection between the characteristics and origin may not be as strong as with PDO. Moreover, it is sufficient that the reputation of the product is essentially related to the origin, regardless whether the characteristics of the product are or are not inherent in this geographical area. Therefore, the connection between the quality of the product and the origin does not have to be demonstrated repeatedly. The schemes are also open to non-European producers. This ensures that quality products which originate in countries outside the EU can enjoy the same level of protection as EU quality products

Europe has become one of the most popular places of origin for food in China. The EU wishes to help Chinese consumers learn more about European culture, tradition and certificated agricultural products and food through the “Tastes of Europe” campaign. Let’s explore Europe, and enjoy the festivity!

For more details about the ‘Tastes of Europe’ campaign, please visit the ‘Tastes of Europe’ website (Tastesofeurope.eu) and Weibo (@源味欧洲).

About the European Union (EU):

The EU, which consists of 28 countries, has the world's largest economy and the third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro), which has been adopted by 18 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability.

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