The European Commission said on Monday that Croatian producers cannot sell wine under the name of Teran, which is recognised as originating in Slovenia's Kras under protected designation of origin. After Croatia joins the EU in July, the sale of Teran-labelled wine from the country will also not be allowed in Croatia.
Croatia did not object when Slovenia registered Teran for protected designation of origin, Roger Waite, the press officer of Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos told the STA on Monday.
In line with EU regulation, Teran is a protected Slovenian product and as of 1 July no Croatian wine can be sent to the market under this name, added Waite.
The statement comes after Slovenian authorities found Croatian wine labelled Teran being sold in stores around the country and ordered that the contentious wine be removed from the store shelves last week.
Several days later, Croatia's Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovina announced that he would propose to Slovenia and Italy in Luxembourg today that the countries launched a procedure for cross-border designation of origin for Teran.
After today's meeting with Slovenia's Agriculture Minister Dejan Židan, Jakovina was rather pessimistic, saying that there was no willingness in Slovenia to launch the procedure to gain cross-border designation of origin for Teran.
There "is no such example in the EU," Židan said after the meeting today. He added that the EU acquis must be respected also when it hurts.
Croatian winemakers say that indigenous Teran vines are grown in the Croatian part of the Istria region, while the wine sold as Teran by Slovenian winemakers is made from grapes of Refošk vines.
"It is no secret that Teran wine is made from the grapes of Refošk vines," Židan said.
Source: Slovenia times
