The great European GI road trip - Taste your way through Europe’s most famous geographical indications

 

No, we’re not a travel agency. We’re globaleyez, the brand protection experts. However, we understand the confusion the title of our article may have caused. Bear with us, and we’ll show you what famous European culinary masterpieces have to do with brand protection.

 

 

Start your engines (and your appetite)

Traveling is an excellent opportunity to get to know different places, cultures, traditions - and tastes. After all, local products and dishes are steeped in the history and culture of any location, making them an integral part of the identity associated with the place. Kind of like the trademarks of a brand, right?

 

This is exactly why the European Union has introduced the concept of geographical indications (GIs). According to the Factsheet published by the European IP Helpdesk, "A geographical indication is an intellectual property right that safeguards the name of a product linked to a specific geographical origin, where its reputation or qualities are essentially attributable to that origin."

 

This can include agricultural products, food, spirits, wine, as well as craft and industrial products like jewellery, textiles and glass. Currently, there are over 3,700 GIs registered by the European Commission, all listed in the searchable database eAmbrosia.

 

In practice, the system protects GIs in three categories: protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI) and geographical indication of spirit drinks (GI). PDOs provide the strongest type of protection, but they also have the strictest criteria: all steps of the production, processing and preparation must take place in the specific region. This means that all raw materials have to be sourced from there as well.

 

PGIs, on the other hand, specify that at least one of the production, processing, and preparation steps must occur in the region in question, and not 100% of the raw materials have to originate from there.

 

Finally, the GI of spirit drinks (e.g., Irish Whiskey) requires that at least one step of the above three processes occur in the region, while the ingredients of the protected product can come from anywhere.

 

As you can see, GIs protect products, producers, and consumers alike. Similar to trademarks and copyrights, GIs ensure the authenticity of the product while protecting the traditions and cultural heritage of a region from lookalike and counterfeit products.

 

This is why, for the sake of this article, we offer to take you on a road trip to Europe. Buckle up and let us take you from region to region, introducing the most famous GI products you may already know - and those you have probably never heard of!

 

 

Preparing the route

Here’s our itinerary. We’ll start in Spain, then move on to France. From there, we’ll take the ferry to the UK and Ireland, then back to the Benelux countries and the Nordics. Our route will take us next to Germany, Italy, and the Alpine regions. After a stop in Central and Eastern Europe, we’ll finish our grand tour in the Balkans and Greece.

 

Let’s get started!

 

 

Spain

With 412 entries in eAmbrosia, Spain has one of Europe’s richest GI portfolios. The country boasts strong connections between its climate, landscape, produce, and traditional production methods.

 

Four varieties of the famous Jamón Ibérico, for example, enjoy PDO protection status. These are the Jabugo from Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche, the Guijuelo from Salamanca, the Dehesa de Extremadura from Badajoz and Cáceres, as well as the Los Pedroches from Córdoba.

 

 

Illustration of a plate of thinly sliced Jamón Ibérico

 

 

The Queso Manchego cheese also has PDO status, similarly to the Rioja, Tharsys and Cava wines and the Nueces de Nerpio walnuts.

 

 

France

France popularized the concept of terroir, the idea that the origins significantly affect the taste, smell, and sense of the end product. According to terroir, the type of dirt, climate, topography, as well as human farming traditions all influence the food and drinks agriculture produces. No wonder that France is home to 806 entries in eAmbrosia.

 

Champagne, for example, the alcoholic beverage that’s often the ultimate expression of luxury and celebrations, has been a PDO-protected French product since 1973. Another important culinary heritage of France is Roquefort, a signature blue cheese that enjoys PDO status. Comté is a different type of cheese, also PDO-protected, showing the rich and multi-faceted cheese-making traditions of France. Finally, let’s finish our meal with a tumbler of PGI-protected cognac, a signature French digestif liquor.

 

 

United Kingdom and Ireland

The British Isles are home to a variety of famous alcoholic beverages, including all types and origins of whisky. Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky are both produced and PGI-protected here, despite the many misleading bottles available all over the world that claim to be Irish-style whiskey, or simply Scotch.

 

 

AI-generated illustration of a glass of Irish Whiskey perched on grey rocks on the beach

 

 

Although the UK left the EU, many of its products still carry GI protection. PDO-status Welsh Caerphilly, for example, is a traditional cheese produced in Wales, while West Country Beef can only be called that if it stems from cattle born, raised and processed in a specific region of England.

 

While in Ireland, we must definitely try the Waterford Blaa, a PGI-protected soft white bread roll covered by a generous dusting of flour.

 

 

Benelux countries

The Benelux countries provide a perfect example of the way differing microclimates and local methods create distinctive differences in beloved products.

 

Take the PGI-categorized Gouda Holland and the PDO-protected Noord Hollandse Gouda. While the former can be produced anywhere in the Netherlands, the latter has to be made from 100% milk sourced from the Province of North Holland. This gives it a distinct texture and taste that is unique to Noord-Hollandse Gouda.

 

The GIs also ensure the continuation of age-old traditions in modern circumstances. The Vlaams roodbruin bier, for example, is a traditional sour dark red-brown ale from West Flanders that is created via very specific fermentation steps.

 

The Jambon d’Ardenne, protected by PGI, is a dry-cured or cooked ham stemming from Southern Belgium, which pairs very nicely with the crisp white Moselle Luxembourgeoise wines enjoying PDO status.

 

 

The Nordics

Associated with lower temperatures and a lot of precipitation, products from the Nordic countries are the perfect proof that harsher climates force people to become more adaptable and creative. In this case, the role of GIs is even more important in protecting these lesser-known and more vulnerable products from fraudulent lookalikes and helping them reach well-deserved international recognition.

 

The Kalix Löjrom is the perfect example of this. The orange roe of the vendace fish that live in the Swedish Lapland archipelago was Sweden’s first PDO-protected product. Today, this luxurious delicacy is one of the most important food products exported from the country.

 

The Danablu, on the other hand, is a distinctive PGI-protected blue cheese originating from Denmark, and the unique Lapin Puikula potatoes stemming from Finland enjoy PDO status.

 

 

Germany

Germany combines centuries-old food traditions with one of Europe's strongest GI systems. Given the country’s size and diverse traditions, Germany is the perfect example of how regional differences heighten a product’s value and justify premium pricing.

 

Germany has 194 entries in the eAmbrosia database. The Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, for example, are PGI-protected small, thin pork sausages originating from Nürnberg, while the dry-cured and smoked ham called Schwarzwälder Schinken also enjoys PGI-protected status. They can be consumed with Spreewälder Gurken, special PGI pickles prepared according to a traditional recipe.

 

 

Illustration of traditional German products: sausages, pretzels and a pint of beer laid out on a plate

 

 

A pint of PGI-protected Münchener Bier works well with the meal, a tasty beer made with well water sourced from deep wells within the city. For dessert, we suggest a plate of Lübecker Marzipan, or during the Christmas season, the famous Dresdner Christstollen, a special fruit bread covered in powdered sugar. Both treats enjoy PGI status.

 

 

The Alpine Region

The Alps, spanning several countries in Europe, provide a very special geography that significantly influences the availability of raw materials and production methods. Moreover, since the non-EU country Switzerland also belongs to this region, the European Commission has to face technical and administrative barriers as well.

 

Luckily, Switzerland and the EU signed an agreement to protect each other’s GIs, which means that iconic Swiss products like the Gruyère, Raclette du Valais and Tête de Moine cheeses also enjoy the protection provided by the EU’s GI system, as well as its national one.

 

Besides cheese, the Alps are also famous for their meat. For example, the Tiroler Speck, a traditionally crafted ham from Austria, is designated with PGI protection. Another Austrian specialty is the Wachauer Marille, a special type of apricot enjoying PDO status.

 

 

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Italy

With 920 records in the eAmbrosia database, Italy consistently ranks amongst Europe's leaders in GI registrations. The culinary feats of the Mediterranean country are globally known and recognized; no wonder that Italy relies on the protection GIs can provide for its iconic products.

 

Nevertheless, Italian culinary specialties are often counterfeited and copied, and the abundance of “Parma-style hams” and “Chianti-style” wines creates a serious problem for the country.

 

Often referred to as the king of cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is a PDO-protected delicacy from the heart of the country. But it’s not alone in the throne room: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is also a beloved PDO-protected Italian masterpiece, produced from the milk of water buffaloes in the Campania region. And let’s not forget about the famous gorgonzola, a PDO-status blue cheese originating from Lombardia and Piemonte.

 

The Prosciutto di Parma, on the other hand, is a meat product known for its signature taste and thin slices. It also enjoys PDO status, just like the crisp white wine Chianti Classico. The well-known balsamic vinegar Aceto Balsamico di Modena, a key ingredient in many salads, is registered for PGI protection.

 

 

Central and Eastern Europe

Many delicacies from the newer EU member states are less widely known, but they also deserve the protection of the GI system. Indeed, the recognition and safeguards brought on by GIs contribute to the development of these economies and allow their traditions to live on.

 

Western countries have already taken note of the local delicacies, ensuring a steadily rising interest in GIs from the region. These include the Gyulai kolbász (a special type of pork sausage) from Hungary, the Telemea de Sibiu (traditional goat cheese) from Romania, and the Kraški pršut (dry-cured ham), as well as the Kranjska klobasa (meat sausages) from Slovenia, all protected by PGI status.

 

 

Balkans and Greece

Our final destination is the Balkan Peninsula, where the Mediterranean climate, unique topography, and centuries of traditions created some of the best-known GIs in Europe.

 

The PDO-protected feta cheese, for example, originating from Greece, is a crumbly white cheese made from sheep’s milk that is at the center of global trade wars and cultural property disputes.

 

 

Illustration of a block of feta cheese topped with green olives

 

 

Feta cheese, as seen by the EU, is the unique product of centuries of Greek traditions and history and is therefore their intellectual property. Other parties, like the US, regard it as a type of food that anybody with the right ingredients and expertise should be able to produce and sell. This is another case where small local producers need the protection of the EU to be able to hold their own against international competition.

 

While not the subject of global trade disputes, the Kalamata olive is another signature Greek agricultural product that enjoys PDO status. The Dalmatinski pršut, on the other hand, is a dry-cured, wood-smoked, air-dried ham from Croatia that is registered for PGI protection.

 

 

What our road trip means for brand protection

As you can see, products with any type of GI designation form an integral part of a region’s history, culture and tradition. As such, they can be regarded as a collective brand. The misuse of  GIs thus leads to brand dilution and, in many cases, is a form of counterfeiting.

 

Applying for GI status is the first and inevitable step for the protection of a traditional product. However, it’s not enough. Producers and associations, just like brand owners, have to monitor trade on online marketplaces, social media platforms, and single webshops to detect and eliminate any infringements.

 

Luckily, globaleyez’s brand protection services work just as well when monitoring for GI misuse. We detect marketplace listings, social media posts, images, SEO ads (e.g landing pages selling "real Parma hams"), and much more.

 

 

Conclusion

As the EUIPO puts it in its public awareness campaign,

 

"Europe's greatest souvenirs aren't always found in gift shops; they're often enjoyed around the dinner table. Behind every authentic GI product is a region, a community, and generations of expertise worth protecting. Whether you're savoring Parmigiano Reggiano in Italy, enjoying Champagne in France, or tasting Manchego in Spain, choosing authentic GI products helps preserve Europe's rich cultural heritage for future generations."

 

On a journey, travellers can learn much about the places they visit - and curiously, about their home. Comparing the unfamiliar to the familiar allows us to get a perspective on what we already know, and perhaps recognize some unique features of our home that we used to take for granted.

 

Take a look at the well-known outlines of your region. What are the unique geographical, cultural, and historical features that constitute the "brand" of your home? What steps do the producers and authorities take in your region to protect these both on- and offline?