Spirits

July 24, 2009
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

The Regulation laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks provides for a double system of protection of spirit descriptions. Spirits are divided into 21 categories, which each have rules for fabrication and minimum strength. Within these categories, certain names are reserved for drinks from particular countries, for example ouzo, which is aniseed-flavoured spirit drink that must have been produced exclusively in Greece or Cyprus, or grappa, which is a grape marc spirit produced in Italy. The Regulation also defines a number of geographical designations, which are reserved for drinks that “acquired their character and definitive qualities” in the area denominated.