Ansa International

Brunello di Montalcino wine patents name in 60 countries ... Producers of Brunello di Montalcino, considered one of Italy's finest wines, have patented its name in over 60 countries around the world in order to avoid imitations being made abroad. The decision to make Brunello di Montalcino a brand name, on the same level as such internationally known Italian names like Versace and Prada, was made after the European Union decided to allow non-Italian winemakers to call their wines with such names as Brunello, Vinsanto, Amarone, Morellino and other for a total of 17. "Already in 1993," explained Brunello di Montalcino Consortium chairman Stefano Campatelli, "we began registering Brunello di Montalcino as a brand name in eight countries
(United States, Canada, Chile, Argentina, South Africa,
Switzerland, Japan and Australia) to make sure no one copied
it." What was at first just a precaution became a necessity
after the move by the EU, he added. "Today we have our name registered in an additional 60 countries, including all 25 EU members, and this places us in a safe position, but not safe enough to lower our guard," Campatelli said. "We have also joined with other consortiums producing premium Italian wines, with the blessing of the ministry of agriculture, to file an appeal against the reckless EU ruling and have it overturned," Campatelli said.