Plan B Forum

AUSTRALIAN champagnes, ports and sherrys will be renamed sparkling wine, ruby and apera as part of an historical agreement between the European Union and the Australian government that came into force yesterday.

Other varietal names on the chopping block are burgundy, sauterne, claret, chablis, moselle and marsala.

The deal is designed to safeguard the reputation of the most revered wine-producing regions of Europe - such as Champagne and Burgundy in France, Oporto in Portugal and Xeres in Spain - by banning the use of those names by Australian winemakers.

Although the first agreement to phase out European ''geographical indications'' was signed 16 years ago, the new agreement signals the end of the line for those winemakers who have not yet taken matters into their own hands.

Port will be known simply as vintage, ruby or tawny, Australian ''champagne'' is already mostly described as sparkling wine and sherry has been renamed apera. Tokay, the sweet dessert wine, has been given a 10-year reprieve before any enforced change, but is already being called topaque here.

The agreement also contains clauses that will open up the European market to more Australian wines. The EU had banned the importation of wines made using particular methods, including the adding of oak chips and the use of reverse osmosis. Such wines are permitted under the new agreement. This means winemakers will no longer have to produce a separate blends for sale in Europe.

The agreement also covers more than 2500 European geographical indications of goods other than wine, such as cheeses, meats and regional dishes.

http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/t ... 14fle.html