Napa Valley moves to protect name in UK over Brexit

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has secured a Certification Mark giving it greater protection for the Napa Valley name in the UK as a “proactive measure” ahead of Brexit.

NVV, a non-profit association of 550 winery members, had previously obtained Geographic Indication (GI) Status for Napa Valley as a protected name in the European Union in 2007 – the first time an American wine place name received such recognition.

However, this protection will lapse in the UK once it leaves the European Union next year.

Consequently, the organisation has taken steps to secure the name under the UK-based certification mark scheme to guarantee protection of the name post-Brexit.

“Obtaining a Certification Mark in the UK assures us that the Napa Valley name will be protected regardless of what happens with Brexit,” said Pat Stotesbery, chair of the NVV’s Napa Name Protection Committee, NVV Board member and proprietor of Ladera Vineyards.

“Wine consumers in this important export market can continue to have confidence that when they enjoy a wine with ‘Napa Valley’ on the label, the quality and excellence our region stands for will be found in the bottle.”

Napa Valley was the first American wine region to obtain GI status in the EU in 2007, and was also the first wine region in the world to obtain GI status in the People’s Republic of China in 2012.