The geographic indication (GI) is a credential attribute, which distinguish the quality of the product of a specific region. This research aimed to identify the sources of information, the degree of appreciation and credibility, and quality factors related to the concept of GI on fine wines from the perception of wine specialists of Brazilian wine associations. The study was divided into two stages: i) the first, an exploratory one, which involved literature revision and specialists' advisement for the elaboration of the instrument for data collection; II) the second, a descriptive one, involved a previous test of the data instrument of collection followed by a survey throughout the Internet counting on the participation of 144 wine specialists. Amongst the important sources for the development of the knowledge on GI, the consumption (experience) and specialized literature are outstanding. The study indicates that 62% of the consulted wine experts identified a high relation between GI and the quality in wines. The edaphoclimatic and production aspects are more important to the perception of quality than other factors related to the GI concept.
consumer; food quality; geographic indication; wine specialist
