Government puts cork in Europe’s push for the name prosecco

The federal government has pledged $100,000 into the fight to keep the name prosecco for locally-produced sparkling wine which Europe wants barred as part of a trade deal — with the money to fund a team of legal academics to help mount a new defence.

• Prosecco is just the tip of the EU trade war iceberg
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Australia has stepped up its fight to keep the name prosecco for locally-produced sparkling wine which Europe wants barred as part of a trade deal.

Today, the Morrison Government will pour $100,000 into the diplomatic row, funding a team of legal academics to help mount a new defence to keep the name.

Before 2010, prosecco was considered a grape variety, like chardonnay, meaning it could be used by winemakers around the world.

But concern about foreign winemakers muscling in on sales prompted the Italian Government to change the name of the grape to “Glera” and register the grape growing region in North Eastern Italy as prosecco.

Prosecco accounts for 20 per cent of sales at Brown Brothers chief executive Dean Carroll says. Picture: Simon Dallinger

As Britain edges closer to leaving the European Union, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is gearing up for a fight with Europe over 172 foods and 236 alcohol products Europe wants to protect including prosecco, feta and parmesan.

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Prosecco exports are worth $60 million annually and are predicted to rise to $500 million over the next decade.

Australian winemakers such as Brown Brothers fear their markets will shrink if they are forced to ditch the name prosecco from their labels.

Chief executive Dean Carroll said prosecco has experienced “massive growth” globally and accounts for 20 per cent of wines produced by Brown Brothers.

“To start from scratch with a new name would be impossible,’ he said.

“The name Glera is just not that sexy.”

Mr Carroll welcomed the government-supported study which will be funded through an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant to be unveiled by Education Minister Dan Tehan.

Legal academics from Monash University will spend the next two years researching the legal row with support from the Australian Grape and Wine Inc.

Intellectual law expert Professor Mark Davison said the project will focus on how prosecco acquired a status as a geographical indicator and whether that means it loses its status as a grape.

Winemakers fear they will lose out if they are forced to get rid of the name prosecco.

He said initial research had unveiled more than a dozen Italian regulations listing prosecco as a grape not a region between 1969 and 2009.

The research team will also extend their work to other wine varieties including the name Nero d’Avola which is also under threat.

Education Minister Dan Tehan said the Government would stand up for local producers.

“This research will ensure local wine makers aren’t disadvantaged by foreign producers making spurious claims for the exclusive use of wine names,” he said.

Originally published as Government puts cork in Europe’s push for the name prosecco