The Geographic Indication Prosecco Battle Between Italy and Australia: Some Lessons from the History and Geography of the Most Famous Italian Wine

Abstract

Abstract This article seeks to contribute to the debate around the legality of the Prosecco geographical indication (GI). The article’s main point is to demonstrate that the term Prosecco does satisfy the conditions laid down in Article 22 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and that its protection as a GI in both the European Union (EU) and other countries does not run counter to TRIPS. Through a review of the relevant literature, the article shows that this term has been used for many centuries in the northeastern part of the Italian peninsula to refer to a high-quality wine, including in the territory around the village of Prosecco in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. This suggests a strong link between that area and the quality and reputation of the famous Italian sparkling wine and strengthens the EU and Italy’s claims for the protection of the term Prosecco as GI in both the EU and other countries that sign trade agreements with the EU.