WINE NEWS / U.S.
and E.U. reach accord on wine names
Earlier this month, the United States and European
Union forged an accord to regulate the labeling of wines in the United
States. European negotiators were thrilled to announce that their
U.S. counterparts had agreed to present legislation in Congress that
would recognize all European appellations and limit the use of European
wine names on wines produced in the U.S. The pact is of particular
significance for producers of Chianti,
who have seen certain American winemakers label their wines "Chianti"
even though the wines were produced in North America (producers in
Burgundy, Chablis, and Madeira are also relieved by the news). American
negotiators also agreed to exempt European producers from strict U.S.
certification requirements.
The accord also provides a framework for the settlement
of future issues through "bilateral consultations rather than
through dispute settlement mechanisms."
In recent years, the Sangiovese grape (the base for
Chianti) has enjoyed great popularity with North American winemakers
and especially in California. Sangiovese was first brought to North
America in the eighteenth century by Thomas Jefferson, an Italophile
and winemaker, who greatly admired the culture and viticulture of
Renaissance Toscana (indeed, Republican Firenze was an inspiration
for the early American government).
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