by In Trieste
The ‘Prosecco War’ between Italy and Croatia has stepped up a gear after the European Commission published an application for EU-protected label status for the Croatian Prošek wine.
Italy’s Prosecco producers claim that Prošek’s similar-sounding name could confuse consumers and would risk weakening the image of the bubbly Italian drink.
The Italian agriculture minister Stefano Patuanelli has now waded into the debate, establishing a technical group to fight any decision by Brussels to classify Prošek as a recognised protected label (PDO).
Under the application rules, Italy has two months to file objections, with Patuanelli stressing that the EU had made “no definitive decision” yet regarding the registration of the label.
However he warned that “Italy can and must object, at a European level, to defend its product of absolute excellence.”
Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto region which is home to the UNESCO-recognised ‘Prosecco Hills’ of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, has slammed Croatia’s application as “disgraceful”.
Producers of Prošek, a dessert wine made using dried grapes grown in the Dalmatia region, argue that customers could easily tell the difference between the two products and say the drink has its own identity which dates back more than 2,000 years.
Great article. Something similar happened years ago with local “Tocai” white wine, when Hungary claimed fatherhood to the original version “Tokaj”. Sadly, after a long battle. the case was won by Hungary under European scrutiny and Italy had to change name to its delicious tocai. Today it is called “friulano” but it is just as delicious.