Australian Grape & Wine is urging anyone with an interest in the grape variety Prosecco, or the ongoing rights to use other grape variety terms, to make sure their voice is heard as the Australian Government opens a public objections process in a range of proposed European Union (EU) wine geographical indications (GIs).
“It’s absolutely critical that Australian grapegrowers and winemakers submit their views to Government through this public objections process,” says Lee McLean, chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine.
“Prosecco is a grape variety just like Shiraz or Chardonnay.
“We need to let political decision makers in Australia and the EU know that maintaining our ability to use grape variety names is an essential element of rules-based trade and investment in our sector.”
Through the negotiation for the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine (Wine Agreement), the EU is seeking protection for 50 new wine GIs – including Prosecco and Picpoul de Pinet – as well as updates to existing GIs.
The public objections process is a way for interested stakeholders to provide submissions of objection to the wine GIs for which the EU is seeking protection for in Australia.
It is the second time the grape variety name Prosecco has been subjected to a public objections process in Australia under the agreement.
The last attempt by the EU to stop Australian producers from using the name Prosecco was quashed by the Registrar of Trademarks in legal proceedings in 2012 and 2013 on the grounds that Prosecco is a grape variety name.
“We understand some will be frustrated by the requirement to re-prosecute the arguments they made in 2012/13, particularly given the commonsense outcome delivered by the Registrar of Trademarks at the time,” Mr McLean says.
“However, it’s critical that every grower and every winemaker with an interest in Prosecco takes the time to lodge a submission into this process.”
Australian Prosecco has grown to over $200 million in value with regions like the King Valley investing millions in vineyards, production facilities and associated tourism infrastructure.
The variety is grown in 20 regions across Australia and is fetching the second-highest average grape price of any white grape variety at the moment.
“To lose the right to use Prosecco now when the sector is under significant economic pressure, would be devastating to these regions and their communities,” Mr McLean says.
“It would also leave Australian grape and wine businesses wondering which grape varieties will be targeted next by the EU.
“We are not interested in entertaining the cynical protectionism that is driving the EU’s push to stop Australian producers from using the variety name Prosecco.
“We need everyone with an interest to fight for a commonsense outcome that retains our right to use Prosecco and sets a strong precedent for how other grape variety names will be treated in the future.”
Submissions must be lodged before 12pm on Friday 21 April AEST via the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Have Your Saywebpage.
The Department has also made available a range of documents to help stakeholders understand the process and will undertake public information sessions online. This information and public information session details can be found here.
Photo: Sam Miranda, King Valley.
Related Content
‘Save Australian Prosecco’ Briefing
Monash University: “Prosecco Should not be considered a geographical indication’
Anthony,
As another Port Pirie ratbag I know nothing, however the name switch from Prosecco to Glera is a bit like a card sharps underhand slight of hand trick.
As much as we might think it abhorrent, if we look at historical wine naming and changes we have always caved in to the EU. I guess it has historically come down to economic realities imposed by the agricultural trading situation with the EU and I suspect that we might have to cave in again as the economics of the Aussie wine market are not a little unsecure at the moment..
Given that, lets make the best of a bad situation and rename the wine with an attractive and catchy name, perhaps Ausseco..
From the 1st edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine (1994-97 w/reprints). Entry by Daniel Thomases who ‘worked closely with Luigi Veronelli’. “PROSECCO, late ripening white grape variety native to the Friuli region in north east Italy.”
Although this problem is different to Champagne why do we have to use a traditional Italian name that has been around for over 100 years because it has now become popular instead of developing an Australian product. What will be next an Australian Cava perhaps, 40 years ago just about every Australian sparkling wine was called Champagne and there were many awful examples and the same is happening to Prosecco I doubt whether every wine made with this name made in Australia uses Prosecco or Glera grapes so leave to the Italians and come up with an Australian product.