Australia does not like the New Zealand government’s decision to ban the sale of Australian Prosecco on its territory within the next five years. Thanks to an agreement with the European Union for the protection of Italian sparkling wine with a Registered Designation of Origin (DOC), Australian producers will no longer be able to export their “Prosecco” to New Zealand.

«We are disappointed in the decision as reported and are seeking clarification of the impacts from the NZ government», says Tony Battaglene, Chief Executive of Australian Grape & Wine.

In the agreement between New Zealand and the European Union, the political and intelligence role of the Consorzio di Tutela of the world’s most famous Italian sparkling wine weighs like a boulder.

The EU Trademark Office has gone so far as to define Prosecco as «the most famous sparkling wine in Europe, together with Champagne». In Australia, however, it is not recognised as a Geographical Indication, but only as a grape variety.

IN AUSTRALIA ‘PROSECCO’ MEANS ONLY A GRAPE

Australian wine laws provide that terms ch as “Prosecco” can legitimately be used as a «varietal indicator», even when a grape variety is registered as a Geographical Indication, or part of it.

After all, Australian Prosecco in New Zealand is no small business. According to the most up-to-date data provided by Wine Australia, the country exported about 750 thousand bottles of “Prosecco” to New Zealand between June 2021 and June 2022. For a value of about $ 3.5 million.

According to a rough estimate for the 2022 harvest, Australian Prosecco production will be around 15 million bottles. Big giants such as Accolade Wines, which just last year announced the expansion of the range of its subsidiary Grant Burge Wines (Barossa Valley), with the debut of a Prosecco label and a Prosecco Rosé label (pictured on the cover).