Using the name'Port'

[Shadrach]

On page 137 of the latest Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine there is a write- up on the New Zealand 2004 Trinity Hill Touriga Nacional Tinta Roriz Port. The article finishes by stating "It is able to be labelled as 'port' because none will be exported to Europe". I didn't realise that this was one of the criterion for the use or non use of the word 'port'. Surely many Australian ports, burgundies, clarets, chablis, champagnes etc were never made to be exported to Europe and yet those names have been outlawed and are no longer used. Can anyone shed any light on this apparent anomaly

[KMP]

That is an interesting question. I have not read the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act 1980, so I don't have the details. I'm sure its great bedtime reading, thou!

On the "current" AWBC site, under Generic Names & Traditional Expressions, Port is on a list of names that "may be used until a phase-out date to be determined, but may not be exported to the EU."

There is an additional condition on the use of Port which is: "Except where the word "port" is used as a registered geographical indication, it may only be used to describe and present a fortified wine."

Mike

[Ratcatcher]

Mike's answer seems to indicate that as long as it's for domestic markets it's OK to use port, chablis etc until a phase out date is determined. Most companies have seen the writing on the wall though and taken pre-emptive action and tried to create a new image or brand for their product and test the market reaction and not left it until the last minute to come up with something else.

Houghton WB could have continued on until the phase out but seem to have decided to change the name to classic and take the time to market the new name as strongly as they could.

The other factor is that if you use those other names you may be opening yourself up to litigation from the French and Portugese even before the phase out date arrives because they are zealous in protecting thier "brand".

[n4sir]

Mike's answer seems to indicate that as long as it's for domestic markets it's OK to use port, chablis etc until a phase out date is determined. Most companies have seen the writing on the wall though and taken pre-emptive action and tried to create a new image or brand for their product and test the market reaction and not left it until the last minute to come up with something else.

Houghton WB could have continued on until the phase out but seem to have decided to change the name to classic and take the time to market the new name as strongly as they could.

The other factor is that if you use those other names you may be opening yourself up to litigation from the French and Portugese even before the phase out date arrives because they are zealous in protecting thier "brand".

I think the highlighted bit is the key in this particular case - last year James Godfrey said they were still thrashing out details with the Europeans, but because of Seppelt's sales overseas (particularly in England) they had to be proactive and make their changes immediately.

He said an interesting development is that the Europeans are now a little worried this could end up backfiring, with people being confused and/or specifically looking for wines called Fino, Amontillado, Tawny, etc instead of Sherry and Port. The whole situation is ridiculous, the Europeans trying to claim exclusive rights to everything including basic terms such as "vintage" (not just as in VP, but also the right to use this to describe a wine year), "tawny", even some of the grape names, while the new world literally has to fight hard to retain their rights to use them.

Cheers,
Ian