Protect a geographical wine name
How to apply to protect a wine name or aromatised wine name under the UK GI schemes and how to use a traditional term to describe a wine product.
If you want to protect the name of a wine or aromatised wine when it’s sold in Great Britain (GB) (England, Scotland and Wales), you need to apply to the UK geographical indication (GI) wine and aromatised wine scheme.
If you want to protect a product name sold in Northern Ireland (NI) or the EU, you need to apply to the relevant EU GI scheme. Applicants from NI need to follow NI application guidance.
GB producers will need to secure protection in GB under the UK GI schemes before applying to the EU schemes to protect a product name in NI or the EU.
Protected wine names and aromatised wine names originate in a territory of a country or a region or locality within that territory. The wine’s quality, reputation or distinctive characteristic is attributed to its geographical location.
Geographical indication (GI) protection can cover geographical areas that cross country borders.
A GI protects the name of wine or aromatised wine from ‘misuse, imitation or evocation’, such as:
- commercial use of a registered name on a product that does not meet the specification
- giving the impression the product is genuine
- giving false or misleading information on the origin, nature or essential qualities of the product - if labelling uses ‘style’, ‘flavour’, ‘as produced in’ or similar descriptions
- any other practice that misleads the consumer about the origin of the product
Read more about UK GI scheme protection.
You can also apply to protect a wine product with a traditional term. Read the guidance on the rules and how to apply to use a traditional term for a wine product.
There are 2 designations of GI protection for wine.
Protected designation of origin (PDO)
To get a PDO for a wine you must produce, process and package it in the geographical area you identify in your application.
A PDO is recognised for its quality and distinctive characteristics that are exclusively a result of the geographical environment it comes from.
You’ll also need to show the:
- grapes you use to make the wine come exclusively from the area you want to associate it with
- vine variety comes from the genus vitis vinifera
Protected geographical indication (PGI)
To get a PGI for a wine product, you must carry out at least one or more stages of the wine’s production process (produce or process or package) in the geographical area you identify in your application. A PGI wine is recognised for its reputation attributed to the local area.
You’ll need to show:
- you produce the wine in this area
- at least 85% of the grapes you use come from this area
- no more than 15% of the grapes may come from outside the area, but must come from the same country
- the vine variety comes from the genus vitis vinifera or a cross between the vitis vinifera species and other species of the genus vitis
Wine categories
You can register the name of wine that is:
- white
- red
- rosé
They can be either still, semi-sparkling or sparkling.
Aromatised wine categories
There are 3 categories of aromatised wine:
- aromatised wine
- aromatised wine-based drinks
- aromatised wine-product cocktails
Who can apply for a protected wine name
You can apply to protect a wine name if you’re an individual wine producer or a group of producers of the wine name you want to protect.
NI applications
If you’re a NI producer, you can apply to protect a product name in NI and the EU under the EU GI scheme. You can also apply to the UK GI scheme to protect your product name in GB. You do not need to secure UK GI protection first.
Defra will handle your application under the UK GI scheme application process. You must make it clear if you are applying to one or both schemes in your application.
UK and non-UK producers can apply.
Non-UK applicants
If you’re applying from outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your product is protected in your home country.
You must provide all evidence in English.
How to apply for a protected wine name
To apply for a protected wine name you need to:
- complete a product specification
- include supporting evidence with your specification - if you need help contact the relevant government body
- complete a summary ‘single document’ for the wine name or aromatised wine name you want to protect
Complete a product specification
You can use the wine specification template to prepare your specification. You must include the following information in your draft specification.
Applicant details (individual or group)
You must include:
- the name of the applicant or lead applicant of a producer group
- contact details for you or the lead applicant (email and full postal address and telephone number)
Product name and protection
You must use a new wine name that is:
- different to existing wine names
- associated with a geographical area
- not trademarked by anyone else
Wine description
State which wine category it’s from.
You should describe the wine’s analytical characteristics:
- total and actual alcoholic strength
- total sugars as fructose and glucose, or sucrose in semi-sparkling or sparkling wine
- total acidity
- volatile acidity
- total sulphur dioxide
- carbon dioxide level (for semi-sparkling and sparkling wine - excess pressure in bar at 20°C)
- any other characteristics that makes your wine distinctive and are part of your product specification
For PDO applications you should describe the wine’s organoleptic features (its smell, taste, look or feel).
For PGI applications you should describe the wine’s colour and taste.
You should avoid subjective descriptions and use the language of wine experts.
Distinctive production methods and volume of wine produced
Explain why methods of production make your product eligible for protection. You should describe the:
- technique required to make the wine
- methods you use, such as the vine training system or harvesting method
- any other distinctive technique you must use to create the wine
State the maximum yield of grapes picked per year in both:
- kilograms per hectare
- number of litres produced per hectare from the final product
Geographical location
Give details of the geographical area where your product is made.
If you can, include a map to show the boundary where the product comes from. You should mark the physical boundaries of the geographical location, such as, rivers, roads or administrative boundaries.
You can have several growing areas within a wider common area or region.
You should include how far it is from the vineyard to the:
- wine press
- wine-making and bottling processes
Product connection to geographical area
For a PDO application, you must describe the geographical area and explain why this makes your product distinctive. Describe any of the following features that are relevant to the wine’s uniqueness:
- geography (hills, rivers, valleys and man-made features)
- geology (rock type and minerals within them)
- climate
- soil type
- rainfall
- slope orientation and exposure
- altitude
For a PGI application, you must say why the quality and reputation of your product makes it distinctive. Describe the product’s:
- reputation - show how its name is linked to the area and provide evidence of its use
- quality and characteristics determined by its geographical area - give examples of why your product is distinctive
If you’re applying to protect the names of several types of wine, you need to explain how each one is linked to the geographical area.
Nominated laboratory
You must nominate a laboratory to certify that your wine meets the standard set out in your product specification. The laboratory you use must have an ISO accreditation (ISO/17025).
Include the name, address, email and telephone number of the laboratory you’ll use. You cannot market your wine using the protected product name without this certification.
Complete a single document
As part of your application pack, you’ll need to fill in the wine and aromatised wine single document.
Submit your application for assessment
For NI applicants, state whether you are applying for either the EU scheme, UK scheme, or both.
Email your documents to: [email protected]
Protected food names
Defra - SW Area
2nd Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Make sure you include:
- the product specification
- a single document
- any supporting evidence
If your application does not meet the scheme’s requirements, the competent authority will tell you why. You have the opportunity to re-submit your application using advice offered to you, if appropriate.
You have the right to appeal if your application is rejected at this stage.
Consultation period
The competent authority will assess your application and seek the views of the devolved administrations if necessary. If it meets the requirements of the scheme, the competent authority will publish your product specification and single document for public consultation for a period of 3 months.
Anyone with a legitimate interest who wants to object must state their intention to do so within 2 months of your application being published.
If there are any objections raised, you’ll be told what they are. You’ll then have 3 months to resolve the issues between you and the objector.
Changing your application to resolve an objection
You may reach a compromise with an objector by making a minor change to your specification. If this resolves the issue, the competent authority will record the change to your application. If there are no outstanding objections, it is now ready for the competent authority to reassess your application.
If you need to make substantial changes to your specification and application form as a result of an objection, you must re-submit your application. Your application will need to go through the assessment process again.
Results of your application
The competent authority will approve your application at the end of the consultation period if:
- it meets the scheme’s requirements
- no objection was made at consultation stage
- a reasoned statement of opposition was not accepted
- agreement was reached and only minor changes were required
The competent authority can make the final decision where agreement could not be reached between you and the person making the objection.
The competent authority will tell you if your application was successful or not before it publishes the results on GOV.UK.
If your application is rejected, you can appeal against the decision.
How to appeal
Follow the guidance on how to appeal against decisions.
Third party appeals (other wine producers)
Follow the guidance to find out when you can appeal against decisions.
Product verification
UK applicants
Before you can market your product using the GI name, you must get it:
- verified by the relevant control body, such as the Food Standards Agency’s Wine Standards Branch
- analysed by an accredited laboratory (the laboratory named in your specification)
The control body will confirm with the competent authority whether your product and production methods meet the standards you’ve set out in your specification.
You’ll get a certificate or approval letter from the control body (this will depend on each control body) to say that your products meets the required standard.
Non-UK applicants
Before your product name can be registered, you must provide evidence that it has been approved by an appropriate control body and accredited laboratory.
Product name registration and protection
When your product name is approved, it’s added to the relevant UK GI register. The product name is now protected.
If the wine is not marketed within a 7 year period it loses its protection.
Using the registered product name
Before you can use the registered wine or aromatised wine name, you must follow the rules and understand what happens if you do not
Add logos to product packaging
Before you can trade your registered wine or aromatised wine, you must follow the rules on how to use a GI logo on your product or product packaging.
Contacts
You can contact relevant government body for help and advice with your application.
England
Email: [email protected]
Protected food names
Defra - SW Area
2nd Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Scotland
Email: [email protected]
Scottish Government
Food, Drink and Rural Communities Division
B1 Spur
Saughton House
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD
Wales
Email: [email protected]
Welsh Government Food Team
Welsh Government
Sarn Mynach
Llandudno Junction
Conwy
LL31 9RZ
Ebost: [email protected]
Llywodraeth Cymru
Sarn Mynach
Cyffordd Llandudno
Conwy
LL31 9RZ
Northern Ireland
Email: [email protected]
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Room 131
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SB