EU and US sign controversial wine accord

EU and US sign controversial wine accord
Oliver Styles

EU and US representatives have signed a controversial agreement on winemaking practices and wine labelling between the two regions.

As part of the deal, which has been in gestation since September 2005, the US has agreed to curb the use of semi-generic European place names that are stringently protected by France and other EU members. Semi-generic names are locally-specific geographical terms such as Parma ham or Madeira wine.

US producers will no longer be able to use 17 such terms, including Chablis, Sherry and Chianti, on their wine labels.

In return, wines made in the US using certain practices banned in some areas of Europe can now be sold in all EU member states. This includes wines made using woodchips, a controversial and illegal technique in many EU winemaking regions.

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