The designation of origin (DO) and geographical indication (GI) will also be used to identify sparkling wines produced in the Azores.
 
This is the result of the amendments introduced to legislation regulating the regional wine sector that were approved by the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

The decision is justified by the Government with the “emergence of new products with a high quality potential” as a result of the production changes that have taken place in the regional wine sector over the last years.”

When presenting this legislative initiative, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry reminded that it “does not significantly change the organisation” of the regional wine sector, which is “just a form of safeguarding the suggestions made by the Regional Wine Commission of the Azores and regional wine producers.”

Noé Rodrigues also said that “this legislation will be complemented by a regional ordinance that will establish the rules of production, inspection and certification of these wines.”

From now onwards, the DO may be used to identify quality wines produced in a specified region (VQPRD - Quality Wines Produced in Specific Regions), quality liqueur wines produced in specified a region (VQPRD) and sparkling wines produced in a specific region (VEQPRD – Quality Sparkling Wine Produced in Specific Regions), while the GI may be used to designate table wines, sparkling wines, liqueur wines, spirits and wine vinegars.

According to the legislation, the Designation of Origin is defined as “the geographical name of an island or specified areas or a traditional designation, which may be associated to a geographical origin or not, used to designate or identify a wine product made from grapes grown on that island or that specific area whose quality or properties are significantly or exclusively determined by the geographical environment, including natural and human factors and whose production and preparation takes place within the specified geographical area.”

In turn, the Geographical Indication “designates wine products made from grapes grown in at least 85% of the Region or from a traditional designation, which may be associated to a geographical origin or not, whose reputation, specific quality or other properties are attributable to this geographical origin, and the production must take place in the Region.”

In the archipelago, the Regional Wine Commission of the Azores (CVR Açores) is the certifying entity, which is charge of certifying wines, promoting, defending and controlling the designation of origin and the geographical indication.