US in trouble over wine labelling

Europe is embroiled in a war of words over wine after banning imports of United States bottles labelled "chateau", "clos" or "vintage".

American wines using special terms such as "fine", "classic" and "tawny" have also been banned. American commentators say the EU ban amounts to protectionism. Worried members of the US Congress, representing 10 wine-growing states, are urging the US trade ambassador to resolve the dispute.

Michael Erhart, of the European Commission, said there were long-established rules over the use of certain "traditional expressions" - "tawny" or "ruby", for example, may be applied only to ports aged in certain ways. "But in the US there are no such rules. Anyone who thinks using the word chateau is better for sales can do so," said Erhart.

The EU, which already has agreements on terminology with Chile, Australia and South Africa, offered the US three years to reach a similar deal. The deadline has passed and US exporters seem to be waking up to the consequences.

One US wine commentator interpreted the ban as "another sign of Europeans safeguarding what they think of as 'theirs'." Another said that it "reeks of protectionism".

- OBSERVER