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New bill to define NZ wine regions
Winemakers, regulators and consumers all want different things from the label on a bottle of wine.
The winemaker wants to establish a saleable brand; the regulator needs to ensure consumer rights are protected; and the customer wants to be able to pick the right wine for the right occasion.
One deciding factor for buyers is often where the wine is made - a nice Pinot Noir from Martinborough or a fresh Sauv Blanc from Marlborough, for instance.
However, there is no strict legal definition or regulation of New Zealand winemaking areas (or "terroirs") in the same way that the French and Germans jealously guard their regions' reputations and winemaking characteristics.
A new bill before Parliament is set to change this. The Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirit) Bill 2005, or GI Bill for short, introduces a structure for the development of terroirs in New Zealand.
The GI Bill raises many questions for New Zealand winemakers, part of a relatively young winemaking industry still experimenting with new varieties, techniques and marketing.
In a recent paper to the 6th International Cool Climate Symposiuim for Viticulture and Oenology, Bell Gully Senior Partner David McGregor explored the background to the issue and many of the questions raised by the GI Bill's introduction.
Click here to read David's paper to the Symposium.
Disclaimer
This publication is necessarily brief and general in nature. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this publication.
