Wine News: Italy Reclaims Prosecco, a $1.5M Piece of Wine History, and the Great Wine Bus Debate

Send us Fan Mail“Prosecco” is one word, but it carries a whole fight about history, labelling, and who gets to own a name. We unpack the newly completed EU trade deal that lets Australian producers keep using Prosecco in Australia, while forcing a phase-out for exports over the next 10 years. If you’ve ever wondered why Champagne is protected, why Glera exists, or how a rebrand can ripple through shelves and sales, we lay it out in plain language and ask the hard question: is this a loss, or a chance for Australian sparkling wine to stand on its own?Then we pivot from trade policy to pure excess with the latest record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold: a 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti that went for around $1.5 million AUD. We talk about what that money is really buying, whether a bottle like that should ever be opened, and why rarity drives the fine wine collecting market in ways that have nothing to do with a simple “is it tasty?” test.From there it gets practical: cellar door tastings, bus groups, and the new normal of seated experiences and tasting fees. Are wineries making wine tourism better, or accidentally training visitors to buy less after paying for the tour? We also take on the “move over Chardonnay” narrative and debate alternative grape varieties, with Aligoté becoming the lightning rod for a bigger question about consumer demand versus insider boredom.If you enjoy smart wine chat with strong opinions, subscribe, share this with your wine group, and leave a review. Then jump into our socials and tell us: what would you rename Australian Prosecco, and are buses good or bad for wineries?Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmeland TikTok! @winewithmegmel