What is in a name?

[JohnT]

Why is it champagne when it comes from a specific region of france, but sparkling wine everywhere else???

This whole debate stemms from an international trade agreement that was signed in versailles in the early part of the 20th century. Within this agreement, a concession was made to France giving them the sole right to call their sparkling wine "Champagne" and only when it comes from the Champagne region of France.

Amung the missing nations at the summit was the good old USA. There was really no point for us to be represented since we were in the midst of the dark days of prohabition.

Since no agreement exists between the US and France, We have every legal right to call our sparkling wine "Champagne" if we so wish.

So why do some in this country insist on calling their's "Sparkling Wine"? To me, this is almost certainly announces that our product is vastly inferior to theirs.

Any of our products that are manufactured in France still retains it's name. For example, Coca Cola made in France is still called "Coca Cola" and KFC made in France is still KFC!.

Now I know what you guys are thinking, but please do not bring appelletion into this. A cabernet is still a cabernet no matter where it is grown. Since Champagne is both a product and a region, should it be OK to have a DOMESTIC Champagne?

Ontop of all of this, Could it not be said that all of the grapes grown in the Champagne region of France are done so through the use of American root stocks? So much for Appellation!

I think that I will continue to drink Korbel Champagne.

 

[cpfan]

JohnT:

Champagne is governments.

Coca-Cola and KFC are private companies. VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. I'm sure you would find that Coca-Cola and KFC in France pay a licensing fee for use of the name.

Just like the wine Meritage is primarily American and requires membership in the Meritage Society. Just like a licensing fee.

Steve

 

[JohnT]

JohnT:

Champagne is governments.

Coca-Cola and KFC are private companies. VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. I'm sure you would find that Coca-Cola and KFC in France pay a licensing fee for use of the name.

Just like the wine Meritage is primarily American and requires membership in the Meritage Society. Just like a licensing fee.

Steve

I hear ya, however, Champagne doe not involve our government. Look at a bottle of Korbel. It says "Champagne" and not "Sparkling wine". This is because there is no legal prohibition on US manufacturers when it comes to the name Champagne.

 

[DoodleBug]

http://alcoholadvocacy.com/geographic-indications-theyre-almost-like-trademarks/

This may clear up the confusion.

 

[joeswine]

the difference is in??????????????

THE difference is marketing and mental mine set, and the protectionism some countries have on the global supply of their product, you say CHAMPAIGN, and people taste and think, you say SPARKILING WINE, and they taste without thinking,. Also take pruccito from province of Parma, other countries make a similar salted pork product but Parma is the worlds leader in marking and the Italian govn. holds Parma to a stick manufacturing standard of the product for export, I agree with john "WHAT'S IN A NAME "and I do think that when you say sparking wine, you think of something lesser than Champaign, this holds true in many things the Europeans do to keep stick standards in there industries and quality in there product.

LIKE it or not that's what they do and it holds very true in the wine industry, shiraz or syrah,pinot grigio or pinot Gris and so on,funny the way things go, isn't it

 

[blumentopferde]

Why is it champagne when it comes from a specific region of france, but sparkling wine everywhere else???

This whole debate stemms from an international trade agreement that was signed in versailles in the early part of the 20th century. Within this agreement, a concession was made to France giving them the sole right to call their sparkling wine "Champagne" and only when it comes from the Champagne region of France.

Amung the missing nations at the summit was the good old USA. There was really no point for us to be represented since we were in the midst of the dark days of prohabition.

Since no agreement exists between the US and France, We have every legal right to call our sparkling wine "Champagne" if we so wish.

So why do some in this country insist on calling their's "Sparkling Wine"? To me, this is almost certainly announces that our product is vastly inferior to theirs.

Any of our products that are manufactured in France still retains it's name. For example, Coca Cola made in France is still called "Coca Cola" and KFC made in France is still KFC!.

Now I know what you guys are thinking, but please do not bring appelletion into this. A cabernet is still a cabernet no matter where it is grown. Since Champagne is both a product and a region, should it be OK to have a DOMESTIC Champagne?

Ontop of all of this, Could it not be said that all of the grapes grown in the Champagne region of France are done so through the use of American root stocks? So much for Appellation!

I think that I will continue to drink Korbel Champagne.

Champagne is the name of the region where that sparklng wine comes from. Any other wine from that region will also have "Champagne" printed on it. Yes, you can drink red wine that is labelled "Champagne". You will hardly find one, as the region almost exclusively produces sparkling wines, but these wines do exist!

One could also ask: Why are you trying to support the myth of "Champagne" being the "best" sparkling wine in the world? The more high quality sparkling wines there are without the label "Champagne" on it, the more the customers will understand, that Champagne is nothing more than a region!

 

[JohnT]

I am only saying that reserving "Champagne" for simply that region perpetuates a stereotype that all others are inferior "sparkling wines".

To carry this forward, let's consider the following..

1) It is "Meat Patty", unless it is from Hamburg, Germany.
2) It is "tube steak" unless it is from Frankfurt, Genmany.
3) It is "beef fat pop-overs" unless it is from Yorkshire, England.
4) It is "Anchovie Sauce" unless it is from Worcestershire, England.
5) It is "Small Fish" unless it is from Sardinia, Italy.
6) It is "small cabbage" unless it is from Brussels.
7) it is "pressed cheese" unless it is from Chedder in Somerset, England
8) it is "crisp, yellow beer" unless it is from Pilzen, Czech Republic
9) it is "processed meat" unless it is from Bologna, Italy

and the best one..

10) It is "sparkling water" unless it is from Selters, Germany


Consider the above. Why is Champange so special? All of the above examples are also food products named after the regions where they were originaly produced, but are still called the same no matter where they are produced.

I would change the first line in your post to "Champagne is ONE of the regions where Champagne is produced" (much like I would say that Pilzen is one of the regions where Pilzner is produced).

 

[blumentopferde]

Well, it's the French Appelation System. It is not only that sparkling wine from the Champagne is called "Champagne". It is also that wine from Bordeaux is called "Bordeaux" and wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape is called "Chateauneuf-du-Pape". They just don't make a distinction between the wine and the region.

I find this system, even though it is without doubt a great way of marketing, quite awkward.

I prefer a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah over a "Bordeaux" and a sparkling Chardonnay from 2007 over a "Champagne". I want clear information on a wine label, and don't want to search the label text or even the net for information on what I'm actually drinking.

Ok, maybe the majority prefers a nice name over clear information, and sure you can have both, a nice name and still lots of information on the label, but still I find the names overrated.

Quality wine will sell and bad wine will stay on the shelf. Well, unless you call it "Prosecco" ;-)