Sangría is only sangría if it is made in Spain or Portugal, rules EU
Thursday, January 16, 2014 @ 3:22 PM
THE term Sangría can only be used for the red-wine-based punch drink if it was made in Spain or Portugal, the European Parliament has ruled,
A popular and very potent summer refreshment, made with red wine, orange juice, chopped fruit and other ingredients including various types of alcohol, sangría is probably the greatest Spanish cliché after castanets and flamenco dancers – but if it is bought elsewhere in the world, it must not use the same name unless it has been imported from Spain or Portugal.
Where it is on sale either bottled in supermarkets or served in bars in other countries, it can only be referred to as 'flavoured drink based on red wine' or 'red wine punch', with the country of manufacture stated after it.
Following on from Greek yoghurt and Feta cheese, which can only be called as such if originally made in Greece, the European Union has placed the same protection order over sangría after 609 MPs voted in favour, 72 against and four abstained.
It has taken two years of negotiations for sangría to get its official geographical denomination, and other member States have now been given a year to make the necessary changes to any drinks they have been selling under the same name.
These rulings are aimed at protecting traditional food and drink industries in individual European countries, many of which are unable to compete in the international market because of cheap copies of their typical produce being made elsewhere.
Article from thinkSPAIN.com