#SaveAussieProsecco

On Monday 26 March 2018, Winemakers’ Federation of Australia co-hosted the “#SaveAussieProsecco” event with Senator Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Australia and Ms Cathy McGowan MP, Independent Member for Indi. 

The event at Parliament House, Canberra was attended by around 150 parliamentarians and their staffers.  It was clear there was recognition of the critical importance of the Prosecco name in domestic and international markets, and the investment and jobs dependent on the outcome of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

The event was supported by Australian Prosecco producers including: Freeman Vineyards (Hilltops), Brown Brothers (King Valley), Politini Wines (King Valley), Symphonia Wines (King Valley), Artwine (Adelaide Hills), Dal Zotto (King Valley),  Pizzini (King Valley), Treasury Wine Estates (T’Gallant, Mornington Peninsula) and Pernod Ricard (Jacob’s Creek). The event was also supported by Wines of the King Valley.

The FTA negotiations are expected to commence in May/June 2018 and could take several years to complete. It is important that we keep providing information and making representations to federal members of Parliament and Senators about the importance of this issue, including for other grape varietals. WFA will continue to do this in Canberra during sitting weeks and also through the regional associations.