Napa deal bolsters US and Brazilian ties

Brazil has agreed a deal with the US, which will see Napa Valley’s identity protected by Geographical Indication status.

The move, which was announced this week during the International Wine Law Association’s conference in Bento Gonçalves, will prevent the Californian appellation from being misrepesented in the rapidly growing Brazilian wine market.

Napa Valley, which currently includes more than 430 wineries, already has GI status in the EU, India, Thailand, and Canada.

Commenting on the news, Napa Valley Vintners’ executive director Linda Reiff said: “This is another important milestone for our trade group in protecting our appellation’s name from fraudulent use in yet another high-profile, emerging wine market.

The agreement builds on a deal earlier this year, which saw the US recognise cachaça as a distinctly Brazilian product. Prior to this, the US had required Brazilian cachaça to be labeled as “Brazilian rum”, with no restriction on the use of the word cachaça for products imported from other countries or made in the US itself.

In return, Brazil agreed to restrict the use of the names bourbon and Tennessee whiskey to whiskey distilled in Kentucky and Tennessee respectively.