The Australian body charged with considering applications for the registration of new local and foreign geographical indications (GI), the Geographical Indications Committee (GIC), has made an interim determination for the Italian GI Avola.

If approved, the term Avola will be entered in the Register of Geographical Indications and Other Terms which contains a list of GIs protected under Australian law. Under the Wine Australia​ Act 2013, the description and presentation of a wine is false if it includes a registered GI but the wine did not originate in that GI. There are a number of Italian regions already entered in the Register, including Barbaresco, Barolo, Chianti Classico, Greco di Tufo, and Sangiovese di Romagna.

The GIC is inviting submissions on the interim determination of Avola which need to be received by Friday 9 November 2018. The notice of the interim determination is available here
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia has advised its members that in accordance with the Wine Australia Act 2013 and the Wine Australia Regulations 2018 a determination of Avola as a GI in Australia will not prevent the use of the term Nero d’Avola. Source: Winetitles