PDO, abbreviation for Protected Designation of Origin, a superior eu wine category created as part of the 2008 wine reforms. It replaces the former Quality Wine Produced in Specified Regions category (France’s Vin de Qualité Produit dans les Régions Délimitées or VQPRD) and encompasses the EU’s controlled appellation systems such as France’s aoc, Spain’s do/doca, Italy’s doc/docg, and Portugal’s doc. Translations of PDO, such as AOP in France, dop in Spain, Italy, and Portugal) are now also seen on wine labels. In 2012, PDO wines represented 44% of EU production, although the proportion of PDO wine produced—as well as the quality—can vary dramatically among member states. PDOs enjoy special privileges in the EU wine system, including protection against misuse as well as the right to use traditional terms and the special EU PDO symbol on the label. Non-EU designations may be registered with the EU as PDOs as well, but only the US’s napa Valley and brazil’s Vale dos Vinhedos had been registered by 2014.
