EU-Australia agreement on labelling comes into force

As from September 1, the following geographical indications (GIs) can no longer be used to describe Australian wines or fortified wines, as the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine comes into force: Burgundy, Chablis, Champagne, Graves, Manzanilla, Marsala, Moselle, Port, Sauterne, Sherry and White Burgundy.

Strictly speaking, most of these names have been slowly phased out by Australian winemakers over the last 16 years as part of the 1994 Agreement between Australia and the European Community on Trade in Wine.

But, whereas many of these European terms had been eradicated within Australia itself, many winemakers were still exporting wines using these well-known European GIs on their labels. However, other European GIs will be phased out over the coming years, for example the term Tokay, used to describe Australian fortified wines, will be phased out within 10 years, and the use of European traditional expressions, such as Amontillado, Auslese, Claret, Fino, Oloroso and Spatlese, will be phased out within one year.

In return for this action, Australia secured recognition for 16 Australian winemaking techniques.

Additionally, over 100 Australian GIs will receive protection in the EU.

Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Compliance and Trade general manager Steve Guy said: “This will also ensure Australia’s international wine reputation is protected as it will reassure consumers, trade and international regulatory authorities that they can rely on the provenance claims made on behalf of Australian wine. One of our primary objectives is to facilitate the free trade of Australian wine and this agreement is vital in achieving this.”

Sonia Smith, director of the Champagne Bureau, said: “This agreement between Australia and the European Union is a step forward for protecting consumers; when consumers buy a bottle of wine, they should be able to rely on the truth of the label.”

More than half the sparkling wine sold in the US is mislabelled champagne, under a loophole in the US-EU Wine Accords signed in March 2007.

“US consumers deserve the same protection as Australians,” Ms Smith said. “It’s only champagne when the wine is from Champagne, France. Australia now joins the EU and a long list of nations, all of which have agreed to recognise and protect wine regional names such as Champagne.”

However, consumers should still be aware of these mislabelled wines as wine wholesalers still have three years to sell any Australian wine stock labelled with these European GIs.

This means that by the time the wholesalers have sold it onto the trade, and the trade has sold it onto the consumer, we could be seeing these wines with incorrect designations around on our wine shop shelves or in our restaurants for many years to come. So beware and take a close look at the label before you buy that bottle of chablis or champagne.