Do you remember when prosecco was still a grape?
That was before 2009. Then, Italy decided that from now on, prosecco is a protected geographical origin, and the grape is instead called glera. An effective way to prevent others from competing with Italian prosecco. (Read more here about how Italy hijacked the prosecco grape name.)
Others within the EU, that is. Because in Australia, prosecco is still a grape name, and they want it to remain that way, even though the EU now, in a new wine trade agreement between Australia and the EU, wants to extend the protection of several geographical indications, including Prosecco, also to apply in Australia.
The EU has already tried once to stop Australian producers from using the name prosecco. That was in 2013, and the Registrar of Trademarks in Australia thwarted the attempt on the grounds that prosecco is a grape name. And that is still how they see things in Australia.
Prosecco has great success in Australia and is grown in 20 regions around the country, but it is most famous in the King Valley in Victoria.
The Australian government has opened a public objections process where anyone interested in allowing prosecco as a grape name to continue to exist in Australia can submit their views. How it all goes will perhaps depend on what the EU offers in exchange for the prosecco grape name?
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