DOC Appellation and Quality in Portugal
"Bottled at Origin" printed on a Spanish QWpsr cork
Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (often abbreviated to QWpsr or simply "quality wines") is an EU-sponsored classification regulating and defining the status of "quality wines" according to production method, management and geographical location.
This article continues below with DOC / Appellation / PDO....
The Denominação de Origem Controlada (or DOC) is the system of protected designation of origin for Portuguese wine regions established following Portugal membership to the European Union in 1986. It is similar to the French Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), Italian Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) and Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) systems. The DOC system replaced the earlier Região Demarcada system developed in early 20th century of distinguishing Portuguese appellations.
List of DOCs
* Vinho Verde
* Porto e Douro
* Vinho do Douro
* Vinho do Dão
* Vinho da Bairrada
* Bucelas
* Colares
* Carcavelos
* Setúbal
* Vinho do Alentejo
* Lagoa
* Lagos
* Portimão
* Tavira
* Madeira
In addition to the top level DOC designation, there are two secondary tiers-Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) and Vinho Regional. IPRs are similar to DOC "in training" and indicate regions that have established their own regulating bodies but has not yet established an internationally recognizable identity for their wines.
The appellation system of the Douro region was created nearly two hundred years before that of France, in order to protect its superior wines from inferior ones.
The quality and great variety of wines in Portugal are due to noble castas, microclimates, soils and proper technology.
Officional designations:
* Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR) or VQPRD - Vinho de Qualidade Produzido em Região Determinada
o These are the most protected wine and indicates a specific vineyard, such as Port Wine, Vinhos Verdes, and Alentejo Wines. These wines are labeled D.O.C. (Denominação de Origem Controlada) which secures a superior quality.
* Wines that have more regulations placed upon them but are not in a DOC region fall under the category of Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada (IPR, Indication of Regulated Provenance)
* Regional Wine - Vinho Regional Carries with it a specific region within Portugal.
* Table Wines - Vinho de Mesa carries with it only the producer and the designation that it's from Portugal.
Wikipedia article - The_Appellation_System
An appellation is a geographical-based term used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown. The rules that govern appellations are dependent on the country in which the wine was produced.
Wikipedia article - Appellation.
PDO Logo
Protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) are geographical indications (GIs) defined in European Union Law to protect the names of regional foods.
These laws protect the names of wines, cheeses, hams, sausages, olives, beers, and even regional breads, fruits, and vegetables.