Australian wine producers are celebrating the news that the Australian government has rejected the EU free trade agreement that would have threatened Australian Prosecco production.
The deal would have restricted the use of the Prosecco name to wines produced in Italy, essentially preventing the production of Australian Prosecco.
The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, was in trade talks with the European Union during the G7 Trade Ministers meeting in Osaka and rejected the trade deal after negotiations had been stalled since July. Minister Farrell had hoped the EU would renegotiate a better deal, but the EU has been reluctant and it could be years before trade negotiations resume.
Along with other Australian winemakers, fourth-generation Brown family member and Brown Brothers winemaker Katherine Brown led the #SaveAussieProsecco campaign, which advocated for the right of Australian producers to use the name Prosecco.
According to Brown, the rejection of the trade deal is a victory for the entire Australian wine industry, not just Prosecco producers.
“The fight to keep the Prosecco name has seen producers from all over Australia come together, it’s a true testament to the collaboration of our wine industry. It means so much to producers and by continuing our quest to keep the use of the Prosecco name in Australia, future generations of winemakers will have the freedom to use all grape varieties and can continue to innovate or work with new varieties,” said Brown.
The battle over Prosecco began in 2009 when Italy changed the name of the Prosecco grape to “Glera” within the EU, claiming that Prosecco referred to an Italian region. However, research published by Monash University and Macquarie University in April this year disproved this claim. The report, The European Union’s attempts to limit the use of the term ‘Prosecco’, was five years in the making and was published by Professor Mark Davison and the team from Monash University’s Faculty of Law and Macquarie University’s Macquarie Law School.
“The evidence speaks for itself: Prosecco has been recognized for centuries as the name of a grape, but not as a geographical indication (GI). Protecting the term as a GI is a cynical attempt to avoid competition from Australian wine producers,” Davison said.
The success of Australian Prosecco has been a boon to the wine industry, as Australian Grape & Wine CEO Lee McLean explained.
“As the industry continues to suffer from crippling trade disruptions, the global pandemic and various weather events in recent years, the growth of Prosecco has been a shining light and lifeline for so many Australian producers,” McLean said.
The deal could have proved dangerous for other grape varieties, McClean explained.
“There is a real risk that other varieties such as Vermentino, Fiano, Nero d’Avola and Montepulciano will be next in the firing line,” McClean warned while the negotiations were still ongoing.
McClean congratulated Senator Farrell on making the right decision for the Australian wine industry.
“We applaud the determination of Trade Minister Don Farrell to walk away from a free trade agreement that was not in the best interests of Australian Prosecco producers. The government has made the right decision.
“We fully support the Australian Government’s decision to walk away from the ongoing negotiations rather than accept a deal that was not in the best interests of Australian Prosecco producers or the broader agricultural sector.
“Any outcome that seeks to reduce our existing market access would be detrimental to our burgeoning Prosecco industry and contrary to the intent of an FTA, which is to increase market access and remove trade barriers. Australian Prosecco producers simply want to retain the right to use “Prosecco” as a grape variety in our domestic and international markets,” said McClean.
Brown is delighted with the victory.
“This is a good day to know that our voice has been heard. We say you don’t need a celebration to open a bottle of Prosecco, but today is a day to celebrate, with Prosecco of course,” she concluded.
