Protecting Wine Exports

Protecting Wine Exports. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Doc Hastings along with other members of Congress are working to try and get the European Union to correct an on-going feud with U.S. winemakers.

HASTINGS: There is an action by the European Union that essentially going back to last fall that essentially said that the EU was going to terminate provisions of a wine agreement that’s been in place some three years that allows certain wines – not giving them access to the European market.

The issue is over terminology that European winemakers feel they have some exclusivity to. Geographic terms like Champagne and Chablis which describe some wines, and have banned the importation of some U.S. wines using such terms as "clos" and "chateau" on wine labels.

HASTINGS: That affects specifically in our state Chateau Ste. Michele which of course is a large winery so a number of members sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Rep asking him to intercede on behalf of the U.S. wine industry.

The European Union is contending U.S. vintners must adhere to the same EU rules for wines using terms regarded as "traditional expressions" in order to avoid confusion.

HASTINGS: This is another example where we have areas where trade is restricted where we have an economy that is slowing down that’s not in the best interests of our overall economy and certainly not in the best interests of our wine industry.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.