Australian wine exporters and domestic-focused wine producers are set to see changes through the conclusion of negotiations on the Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement (A–EU FTA) and a new Australia–European Union Wine Agreement (Wine Agreement).
Through the A–EU FTA import tariffs on Australian wine exports to the EU will immediately reduce to zero on entry into force, improving the sector's competitiveness in the markets. The A–EU FTA negotiations have also provided a resolution for Prosecco. Australian wine producers will retain the right to continue to use Prosecco as the name of a winegrape variety within Australia's domestic market. For exports, Australia will protect Prosecco as an EU geographical indication (GI), phasing out the use on labelling over 10 years from the date the agreement enters into force.
The outcomes for Prosecco will be implemented through a proposed new Wine Agreement that builds on the 1994 and 2009 agreements between Australia and the EU.
Through the Wine Agreement, Australian wine exporters will see additional benefits. Importantly, the new agreement includes protections for Australian wine exporters that will allow all other existing grape variety names to be used indefinitely, even if they become an EU GI in the future.
Australian wine exporters will also see access to simplified certification requirements, reduced analyte testing requirements, 'most favoured nation' treatment for export certification, and protection for seven additional Australian GIs and seven grape variety names.
Wine Australia CEO Dr Martin Cole said Wine Australia will provide comprehensive guidance to producers and exporters through the transition of changes from the agreements.
"Europe is a significant region for Australian wine exporters. In 2025, 245 Australian wine exporters shipped 76 million litres of wine valued at $143 million to EU member markets, representing 12 per cent of total export volume and 6 per cent of export value, with additional wine sent to the United Kingdom and then on-shipped to EU destinations," Dr Cole said.
"The Wine Agreements between Australia and the EU in the past have helped to reduce barriers for Australian wine exporters, helping to give a competitive advantage in the region and have meant that fewer changes to labelling and winemaking practices are needed in order to sell their wine in the EU."
