Australia claiming victory in prosecco conflict

They've been celebrating all week at Dal Zotto and other prosecco wine producers across Australia.

With the collapse of trade talk with the European Union, Australian prosecco producers are now free to keep using the name prosecco for their wines rather than being forced to change to Ozsecco, or another alternative name.

Italian producers had argued that prosecco was the name of a region and Australian winemakers had no right to use it. Aussies argued that prosecco was a grape variety, even though Italians now use the name glera for the grape.

"Prosecco is Prosecco, no matter where it’s made, and the home of Australian prosecco is thrilled by the news that it can stay that way," the Dal Zotto family said in a statement.

"The trade deal talks between Australia and the European Union (EU) in Osaka, which were set to restrict the use of the name prosecco in Australia, have collapsed.

"While there are complexities to that, we are joyous that prosecco is always prosecco."

Christian Dal Zotto said: “What an exciting day it is for not just our family, but for all the prosecco producers across the country. Thank you to all the people who have supported us along the way.”

The Dal Zotto family was Austalia’s first prosecco producer, created by Otto Dal Zotto, who was born in Valdobbiadene. He sparked a trend in the King Valley in north-east Victoria that has now spread across Australia.

In a statement by Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive, Lee McLean, he said: “We commend the resolve of Trade Minister Don Farrell in walking away from a free trade deal that was not in the best interests of Australian prosecco producers.

"The Government has made the right decision. We are fully supportive of the Australian Government’s decision to step away from ongoing negotiations rather than accept deal that is not in the interest of Australian prosecco producers or the broader agricultural sector.”

Michael Dal Zotto added: “From my perspective, it gives us more security in the medium-term. We’ve had capital investment on hold and this gives us the freedom and security to move forward."

The Australian argument is: For Italy’s sparkling wine, there is no legally protected prosecco region, i.e. prosecco does not have a geographic indicator like Champagne does.

Consequently, anybody who produces a sparkling wine from the glera grape using a minimum 85% of that grape can currently call it prosecco.

Academics weigh in over bitter prosecco row

Academics have declared that prosecco is the name of a grape variety, not a geographic name.

The news comes as Australian winemakers continue to fight for the right to use the name prosecco on their wines. Italian makers and the European Union want them to cease.

But the academics are from Australian universities. One wonders if Italian academics would have a very different view.

New research from Monash University and Macquarie University entitled The European Union’s attempts to limit the use of the term ‘Prosecco’ says that prosecco is a grape variety name.

The report is the culmination of five years of research conducted by Professor of Law Mark Davison and the team at the Faculty of Law at Monash University and the Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University.

Using evidence dating as far back as the 1700s, the report says there is extensive historical proof of prosecco being a grape variety and its broad international acceptance as such, including evidence from the Italian wine industry and the European Union (EU).

It also says a lack of evidence has been made available to justify the Italian Government and the EU changing the name of the prosecco grape variety to the name glera in the EU in 2009.

Davison says “the evidence speaks for itself, prosecco has been recognised as the name of a grape for centuries, but not as a geographical indication (GI).

"Protecting the term as a geographical indication is a cynical attempt to avoid competition from Australian wine producers."

Lee McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Grape & Wine, said: "We thank the universities and the authors personally for all the effort they have made over this time in going above and beyond to expose this evidence."

He added: “With the Australian Government undertaking a public objections process on EU GIs, including prosecco, this report confirms the importance of making sure the Government receives as many submissions into this process as possible.

“The risks of banning the ability of our industry to use well-established grape variety names are significant and have to potential to cause widespread damage to our sector and the regional communities it underpins.”

Australian prosecco production has grown to over $200 million dollars in value, with regions like Victoria’s King Valley investing millions in vineyards, production facilities and associated tourism infrastructure.

The variety is now grown in 20 regions across Australia.