A
Geographical Indication (GI) is an official description of a region to protect the reputation and name of a product of that region.

In Australia the only geographic indications are for an
Australian wine zone, region or sub-region. GI is
similar to the Appellation naming system used in Europe. There are no Australian geographic indications currently for food products.

GIs are determined by the Geographical Indications Committee, a statutory authority of the Australian Wine and Brandy Council (AWBC), and listed on the Register of Protected Names, which is maintained by the AWBC.

The GI system was introduced in 1993 to allow Australia to fulfil
its Agreements with the European Community on Trade in Wine and the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

The Register therefore contains geographical indications in relation to wines manufactured in an agreement country and the conditions (if any) applicable to those indications (eg Champagne,
Chianti) as well as geographic indications in relation to wines manufactured in Australia (Margaret River, Barossa Valley).