Australian winemakers argue losing the right to call their bubbly prosecco would be the thin end of the wedge,and other varieties including sangiovese,could go the same way if the government does not stand its ground.
“We were sold this grape variety as prosecco,and that’s what we’re sticking by,” said Katherine Brown,whose family winery Brown Brothers has been making prosecco for 15 years.
Natalie Pizzini,from family-run Pizzini Wines,said winemakers do not want to contemplate what they would have to call prosecco if the European Union won,and what that could mean for other grape varieties.
“If we set a precedent by taking away the use of the names of the grape variety called prosecco,then which grape variety might be next? It would be catastrophic to the Australian wine industry,” she said.
In 2009,Italy changed the prosecco grape variety name to glera,and expanded the prosecco region to include a town by the same name,the head of peak body Australian Grape and Wine Lee McLean said.
“It would be like if the Canberra region suddenly decided they would rename the region Shiraz,and they’re banning every other producer of shiraz from using the variety name. It’s exactly the same situation,” he said.