A last-ditch compromise has offset the danger of Italy and Greece prohibiting the US$17 billion dollar free-trade pact between the European Union and South Africa. At issue was South Africa’s annual production of 30,000 bottles of grappa and similarly negligible output of ouzo, both of which it presently labels as such. Italy and Greece considered this practice to set a bad precedent. South Africa, which has already surrendered its right to use the terms ‘sherry’ and ‘port’, despite making very large volumes of wines traditionally labelled as such, refused to budge until finally conceding a five-year phase-out period for these names. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Lydia Polter said she can understand that for Italy this issue was one of vital national interest, but Meerlust’s grappa distiller George Dalla Cia believes the Italians are simply jealous of his quality. I just hope the Italians don’t look over too many backyard Melbourne fences this summer!
