A Visitor’s Guide to Greek Food and Wine Labels
When travelling through Greece, you’ll quickly discover that food and wine are woven deeply into the country’s culture. To help protect this heritage, the European Union and Greece use several quality labels that safeguard origin, production methods, and long-standing traditions. The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is the name of an area, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, the name of a country, used as a designation for an agricultural product or a foodstuff, which comes from such an area, place or country, whose quality or properties are significantly or exclusively determined by the geographical environment, including natural and human factors, whose production, processing and preparation take place within the defined geographical area. In other words, to receive the PDO status, the entire product must be traditionally and entirely manufactured (prepared, processed and produced) within the specific region, thereby acquiring unique properties. Understanding these labels—PDO, PGI, TSG, and Traditional Appellation—will help you recognise authentic Greek products and appreciate their history.
🟦 Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
What it means:
PDO is the strictest quality label. All stages of production—growing, processing, and preparation—must occur in the defined region. The product’s qualities depend directly on that place’s climate, soil, and traditional know-how.
Examples in Greece:
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Feta (Φέτα)
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Kalamata olives
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Santorini tomatoes
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Sitia Lasithiou Kritis olive oil
PDO guarantees you are tasting something truly rooted in its homeland.
🟨 Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
What it means:
PGI products must have at least one stage of production in the region, and their reputation or characteristics must be linked to that place. It is slightly less strict than PDO but still ensures authenticity.
Greek PGI examples:
PGI helps you spot regional specialities with recognised quality.
🟩 Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)
What it means:
TSG protects traditional recipes or methods—not the geographical origin. As long as the traditional process is respected, it can be produced anywhere.
Greece has few TSG products, but the label is widely used elsewhere in Europe (e.g., “Mozzarella,” “Pizza Napoletana”).
TSG ensures the authenticity of the method, not the place.
🟫 Traditional Appellation (Greek Wine Term)
What it means:
Some Greek wine styles are protected not because they come from a single strict region, but because they employ a historic, traditional method that is uniquely Greek.
These wines bear the label Traditional Appellation.
This designation protects the wine-making process—much like TSG—but is specific to Greek wine law.
🍷 The most famous example: Retsina
Retsina is a traditional Greek wine flavoured with natural Aleppo pine resin. This method dates back thousands of years.
Because its identity is tied to technique more than terroir, the name “Retsina” is protected as a Traditional Appellation. Only wine made in Greece using the traditional resin method can be called “Retsina.”
You will also see Retsinas that carry PGI labels such as:
PGI specifies the region, while Traditional Appellation ensures the authentic resin method.
🇬🇷 Quick Comparison
| Label | What It Protects | Link to Place | Example in Greece |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDO | Region + method | 🌟 Strong | Feta, Kalamata olives |
| PGI | Partial regional connection | ⭐ Moderate | Koulouri Thessalonikis, PGI Retsina |
| TSG | Traditional recipe/method | ❌ None | Few in Greece |
| Traditional Appellation | Historic, Greek wine-making method | ❌ Method-based | Retsina |
🧳 Final Tip for Travellers
When you pick up a Greek product marked PDO, PGI, TSG, or Traditional Appellation, you’re not just buying something to eat or drink—you’re experiencing a piece of Greek heritage.
Whether it’s a wedge of feta, a bottle of olive oil, or a cold glass of Retsina by the sea, these labels guide you to Greece’s most authentic flavours.
If you want, I can also turn this article into a printable one-page guide or add a short section recommending specific Retsina bottles to try.
