July 10, 2004
European Union Cheese Names
In 1992 the European Union produced a very long list of food products whose regional names were to receive protection within the EU. That is, products using a registered name were required to have a specified connection to the region associated with the name. The registered names are referred to as a Protected Designation of Origin ("covers the term used to describe foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how") or a Protected Geographical Indication ("the geographical link must occur in at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation").
Last year the European Union produced a shorter list of 41 names that it wanted to "recuperate" in TRIPS (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) negotiations. Under the EU Proposal, registration of "geographical indication" would establish a presumption that the name is worthy of protection in all WTO countries. The presumption could be refuted by evidence that the name had become generic. Thirteen cheeses made the shortlist. How many can you name? (Click "more ..." for the answer.)
Asiago
Comtˇ
Feta
Fontina
Gorgonzola
Grana Padano
Manchego
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana
Parmigiano Reggiano
Pecorino Romano
Queijo S‹o Jorge
Reblochon
Roquefort
Mmmm. Makes me hungry just reading it.
Posted by Gordon at July 10, 2004 07:46 PM | TrackBackNo, kaydee, I didn't forget. I just don't do wine. Normally, I send people to Bainbridge for that, but since you asked:
Beaujolais
Bordeaux
Bourgogne
Chablis
Champagne
Chianti
Cognac
Grappa di Barolo, del Piemonte, di Lombardia, del Trentino, del Friuli, del Veneto, dell'Alto Adige
Graves
Liebfrau(en)milch
Malaga
Marsala
Madeira
Mˇdoc
Moselle
Ouzo
Porto
Rhin
Rioja
Saint-Emilion
Sauternes
Jerez, Xerez
Well, I had Asiago and Romano. Also thought that Brie would be on the list, which it isn't.
Hmm, I thought that Roquefort and Parm. Regg. were name-protected already.
Posted by: Kaimi at July 12, 2004 05:57 PMBy the way, I've got some very nice Roquefort in the fridge at this very moment. Unless Mardell has finished it off today (always a danger). Also some tasty Gorgonzola. And an awesome block of Parmaggiano Reggiano that I really enjoy munching on. It cuts very nicely, and it's quite easy to just munch on the flakes.
There's some grated Pecorino Romano, but it's kind of old, so for putting on pasta only. (It loses its flavor relatively quickly after grating). There's some Fontina, but it's kind of blah. And we just finished off the Comte last night, over some cheeseburgers.
Also, I just finished some Pecorino Toscano, which is even better than the Romano stuff. If you can get a hold of any Toscano in Wisconsin, I highly recommend it.
Posted by: Kaimi at July 12, 2004 06:02 PM
you forgot the wine. ;-)
Posted by: kaydee at July 11, 2004 06:43 AM