Picodon - European Score 100/100

European Score analysis

This Picodon from Étoile du Vercors earns a perfect score of 100, with particularly strong performance across all six scoring dimensions. The company headquarters and manufacturing scores each reach 35, confirming a French corporate base and domestic production. Crucially, this product also earns 5 certification points, reflecting its Protected Designation of Origin status — the highest geographical quality marker available in European food law. The ingredients score of 10, distribution of 15, and proximity of 5 reinforce the tightly French character of this supply chain, with origin data pointing specifically to the Drôme department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Picodon is a small goat's milk cheese traditionally associated with the Drôme and Ardèche regions of south-eastern France, and the PDO designation ensures that production must adhere to strict geographical and process requirements. This product's origins in the Rhône-Alpes and Drôme are consistent with those requirements. Within the picodon category of 27 products, it outscores 48% of competitors — a midfield result, suggesting that several peers in this specialised category are also well-positioned.

The combination of PDO certification, regional specificity, and a fully domestic supply chain makes this a strong choice for consumers who value authenticity and geographical traceability in artisan cheese. The Vercors region, straddling the Drôme and Isère departments, is closely associated with traditional pastoral farming, and this product reflects that heritage through its verified origin and protected status.