Australian Winemakers Get A Kick From Champagne

A trade agreement between Australia and the European Union comes into force today, which requires wine producers to phase out the use of names such as Champagne and Port.

The agreement protects 11 European Geographic Indicators, and includes other names such as Moselle, Sherry and Burgundy, and prevents Australian producers from using them to describe Australian wine from September next year.

It also prevents Australian producers from using a range of European traditional wine-making expressions and techniques.

But Australian wineries will get better access to the European market.

European Union Ambassador to Australia, David Daly, says the agreement is important to protect Europe's cultural identity, and says the EU is also looking for an agreement on food through the Doha trade talks.

"Fetta is an obvious example. Fetta cheese is a cheese that comes from Greece and it's mind-boggling to a European to see something else marketed as Fetta when clearly it hasn't been made in Greece."