Sparkling wines from the Champagne region were developed as early at medieval times. French kings were traditionally anointed in Reims and champagne wine was served as part of coronation festivities. The first commercial Champagnes were developed in the 16th century.
Around 1700, the method for producing Champagne (méthode champenoise) was fully enshrined and documented and Champagne as we know it was created, with the majority of producers coming out of the French region of Champagne, from which the beverage received its name. Champagne became popularized particularly through the 19th and 20th centuries, especially as a symbol of elegance and upward social mobility.
As the fame and success of Champagne spread, producers from the region of Champagne, France began seeking the exclusive right to use the name "Champagne" for their beverage. These efforts led to legal protections in the Treaty of Madrid (1891), which designated that only the sparkling wine produced in Champagne, France and which adhered to the méthode champenoise could be called Champagne. This right was reaffirmed in the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. These legal protections have been accepted by numerous other countries worldwide. Most recently Canada, Australia and Chile signed agreements with Europe that will limit the use of the term Champagne to only those products produced in the Appellation of Champagne in these countries. The United States, since March 10, 2006, has permitted wineries to to use the semi-generic champagne label of their sparkling wines but does not allow new producers to use the term. Many countries object outright to France's claim, and openly call their sparkling wines Champagnes. But, as international law continues to expand in relevance, many of these opposing countries are faced with increasing pressure, mainly from France and the EU, to recognize France's claim. With substantial revenues at stake, and with strong cases for and against France's claims, the debate continues vigorously on the international stage.
The methode Champenoise was mastered only in Champagne, France This method is neither fast nor cheap (like some other methods that simply add carbonation). The Champenoise method starts with a traditional still wine. Yeast and sugar are added after bottling, and then it’s sealed, so that the carbonation develops. It’s aged with the sediment—the lees. Then the lees are disgorged and the bottle is resealed. This method was mastered in Champagne, France. While it can be imitated elsewhere, it is often considered to be uniquely well performed in Champagne, France.
Champagne from Champagne, France has a distinct texture and flavor It is commonly said that Champagne from Champagne, France has a highly unique texture and flavor. It is described as a unique silkiness characterized with particularly small bubbles that are hardly distinguishable as bubbles on the tongue, but rather simply an elusive energy. Such poetic flavor is, again and again, attributed to the combination of the grapes, soil, and the centuries long production process methode champenoise.
The characteristics of a wine come specifically from the soil,type of grapes and climate It is impossible for the conditions of the French Champagne region to be fully replicated. Even if a climate is similar, the soil may be different. Even if the soil is similar, the nature of the grape seeds may be different. The altitude is also a significant variable. These combined variables does seem to make it impossible that grapes could be produced elsewhere that are of the exact same variety as those produced in Champagne, France. Therefore, it would be wrong for a non-French wine producer to claim that their Champagne is exactly like that produced in Champagne, France, which is sometimes used as a justification for using the name Champagne outside of France.
The méthode champenoise is easily replicated and not unique to France A large number of sparkling wines, unlike still wines, undergo a second fermentation process that is comparable or indistinguishable with the methode champenoise. The process, while more expensive and time-consuming, is not too difficult to replicate. Indeed, the methode champenoise is widely performed around the world. This means that "sparkling wines" are being produced in many places in the world that are virtually identical to "Champagne" produced in the French region of Champagne. If the methode champaenouise is the main criteria for calling a "sparkling wine" a Champagne, then producers that have mastered this method around the world should be allowed to call their wine "Champagne".
Grapes virtually identical to those of Champagne, France's can be produced in other regions. It is easy to imagine circumstances in which grapes are produced outside of Champagne, France that are virtually identical to those produced within the region. There are regions in the world in which the climates are virtually identical. And, even if there are subtle differences, it could be said that almost all of the variables could be changed to aid in the production of a grape that is identical to those produced in Champagne, France. For instance, the seed of grapes in Champagne, France could be planted in a climate that is virtually identical to that of Champagne, France. Furthermore, soil conditions and climate variables (shade levels and humidity with various techniques) could be adjusted to ensure any even more identical resemblance.
Grapes in Champagne, France are not of a single, unique nature. The argument that the French, Champagne grape is unique rests on the assumption that this uniqueness can be preserved on a perfectly consistent level. The problem with this is that grapes in Champagne, France, like in any region, will vary widely in nature and taste based on variables such as soil and hill angle. Therefore, there is no single Champagne, France grape, against which other grapes around the world are unable to compare.
Reserving Champagne name for French producers helps protect consumers Safeguarding consumers is an important purpose of ensuring that Champagne is actually produced only in the French region of Champagne. Many champagne consumers expect that this is the case. Without protections, these consumers are put in a position of being mis-informed and buying a "Champagne" that is not produced in France, and subsequently feeling misled and swindled. Regulations are important in protecting consumers from such misleading sales mechanisms. Ensuring consumer confidence in this way is broadly important in optimizing the growth of the markets.
Establishing rights to the name "Champagne" protects original producers. It is similar a copyright or patent. Industries competing on the world market protect the intellectual and production right over a certain products through the means of patents or copyright laws.The drug industry has long held the practice of securing their products from replication through the means of patents. The entertainment industry as well as art activities enact copyright laws to protect their products from replication. It has been an approved practice within the global trade market and should be applied to "champagne" for the same reasons it is applied elsewhere. The general intent is to ensure that producers don't unfairly benefit from the "Champagne" name who did not help build up that name. It ensures that those create a brand name, an expend the money and time in doing so, receive their due return on investment. In general, this means that product and brand innovators have incentive to innovate in the first place. If the Champagne name is not protected, there may be a general reduction in the incentives of wine-producers to innovate. This is bad for the future of the industry and for consumers that benefit from the industry.
Reserving the name "Champagne" as only wines coming from the region of Champagne dates back to 1908 This is not something that has been claimed only in recent decades due to the increasing success of Champagne. It has been a long standing claim based on the principle of the matter; the the product and process was innovated in the region of Champagne. French producers became particularly vocal in 1956, when Spanish producers began a widespread marketing campaign for "Spanish Champagne". This campaign was as vocally opposed by French producers as any other campaigns would be today. Therefore, the French claim should not to be accused of being only a recent phenomena.
The EU legally secures France's right to the name Champagne The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that the French region of Champagne should have the exclusive right to use the name Champagne. A ruling by such an international body carries substantial weight, adding significantly to the French legal claim to such exclusive branding. As such, the French legal claim to this brand is quite strong, and should be respected internationally.
There are numerous examples of countries reserving their right to name a traditional product only from their country Protections have been given, for instance, to Mexico for Tequila and to to Roquefort, France for ‘Roquefort’ Cheese. There are many examples of such protections being extended to countries and regions for products uniquely originating from those countries and regions. This precedent is simply being applied to Champagne, which certainly fits the mold of this precedent.
Labels that clarify French-origin of a Champagne are sufficient consumer safeguards While it is a legitimate concern that a consumer may think that they are buying a French Champagn when they are actually buying an Austrialian one, reserving the use of the Champagne to only Champagne, France producers is an excessive safeguarding measure. Instead, labeling standards could be created that ensure that producers clearly and boldly indicate the origin of their Champagne. This way, consumers would, with any modest level of effort, be able to discern that a Champagne bottle is French in origin or not.
The law should not protect negligent nor ignorant buyers from mistaken Champagne purchases. The law should not account for consumers that behave irresponsibly, and whom do not read labels or ask questions to achieve a basic understanding of the origin of the wine that they are buying. The law should also not account for those that are not informed about the basics of Champagne's history or that are unable to read labels that are sufficiently informative about the origin of a "Champagne" or "Sparkling wine". While the law should protect such consumers in instances of house-hold consumption, they should not protect buyers in instances of luxury purchases such as Champagne.
Champagne buyers very rarely report mistaken purchases. There are very few instances in which Champagne buyers complain about being confused about the origin of Champagne. The vast majority understand that Champagne originated in France. The vast majority understand that a "Spanish Champagne" is similar to French Champagnes, but originates in Spain.
Even if Champagne is protected as French, other confusions can exist. For example, many "sparkling wines" that are not produced in France utilize the "Méthode Champenoise", which is the same method applied in the production of Champagne, and this production method is often boldly indicated on the label of a sparkling wine. This "Champenoise" part can confuse consumers into thinking that a "sparkling wine" is a Champagne (if we define a Champagne as only that which is produced in France). Therefore, even with French protections of Champagne, room for consumer confusion persists.
Champagne was historically produced in many regions While it is claimed that the region of Champagne was the historical producers of Champagne, this is not really the case. Many different regions in France started imitating the production of Champagne well before the region of Champagne became synonymous with Champagne production. Shouldn't these other regions have a share in the stake of the name of Champagne, since they were part of the initial spread of the product.
Champagne has assumed a generic and legendary meaning unrelated to its French origin Champagne, in the 20th century, became a household word synonymous with celebration and elegance. This meaning has taken on a life of its own that is largely unrelated to its French origin. The French region of Champagne cannot be given full credit for the socio-cultural meaning that Champagne has come to assume. This means that non-French producers should have some rights to benefit from using the name. At a minimum, it seems that names such as "Spanish Champagne" are a fair compromise, balancing the need to preserve the name "Champagne" as purely French, while maintaining the right of other producers to benefit from the ubiquitous meaning that "Champagne" has come to hold.
The French were not entirely responsible for the popularization of Champagne There were many countries, companies, and individuals that were responsible for the popularization of Champagne. One of the individuals that is most responsible for this was George Leybourne, and English entertainer in the late 19th century that agreed to be seen in public drinking nothing but Champagne. He was instrumental in popularizing Champagne in England particularly as a demonstration of elegance and middle class upward mobility. The French cannot claim responsibility for this promotional success, nor should they be the sole beneficiaries of it.
The name "sparkling wine" cannot compete with "Champagne" Sparkling wine is often thought of as a cheap, poor quality version of Champagne. This is not the case. Part of the problem is that Champagne is a term that has been rooted into the public mind as a high quality bubbly beverage. Any alternative name simply does not have the same ring and marketability in the markets. It is unfair, after Champagne's image taking root for decades, to now expect that the other sparkling wines can make do with the name "sparkling wine".
Reserving "Champagne" name to Champagne, France sets a bad precedent for other territorial claims. There are many products with a geographical name. (like Parma, Eau de Cologne, Edam cheese, Arabica coffee, Manchester (kind of cotton). If you offer the French region of Champagne the exclusive right to use the name "Champagne", do you then offer other regions a similar right? Certainly, it is conceivable that this precedent will cause other regions to seek such claims, which will be damaging to international relations, legally costly, and will generally harm the notion that generic names be universally open to business use.
Producing Champagne only in the Champagne region alienates other French producers There are Champagne producers in France that do no produce their sparkling wines in the Champagne region, which means that they are unable to use the name Champagne. This is unfortunate for these producers, particularly where their wineries exist a small number of miles from the Champagne region.
Prefacing "Champagne" with a country's name (ie. Spanish Champagne) is appropriate. By prefacing Champagne in this way with a country name, a foreign producers is making it clear that their Champagne is not produced in the region of Champagne, France. It becomes clear to the customer what they are getting (not a French Champagne), thus avoiding any problems with consumer confusion. And, this allows foreign producers to use the word Champagne to appropriately describe the kind of good they are selling (versus other words such as "sparkling wine" that have not become part of the consumer vocabulary yet).
Champagne was first commercially produced in Limoux not Champagne, France. The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux area of Languedoc about 1535. Limoux was, subsequently, indispensable to Champagne, France's commercial production of Champagne around 1700. It certainly shares some of the credit. Is it fair, then, to exclude them from using the name "Champagne" for its sparkling wines?
The methode champenoise was not invented in Champagne, France. Around 1700, sparkling Champagne, as we know it today, was born. English scientist and physician Christopher Merret documented a second fermentation by the addition of sugar at least 30 years before the work of Dom Perignon who, contrary to legend and popular belief, did not invent sparkling wine. Merrett presented the Royal Society with a paper in which he detailed what is now called méthode champenoise in 1662. This means that Champagne, France's claim to inventing this technique are largely false.
The name Champagne was built by the beverage not the region Champagne was not named as such until it became famous, and until the region would benefit from such a name. Originally, the wine was so insignificant, it didn't even have a name. Instead, it was lumped in with other wines such as as "vins de l'Ile de France" or sometimes just "vins Français." Other times, it was labeled by the town or area it came from, such as "vins de Aÿ," "vins de la montagne," or "vins de la rivière." But it was never called "champagne", until it became famous. In other words, there has not be a contiguous Champagne brand that originated from the invention of the beverage. This weakens the French branding claim on their unique invention.
Protections have significantly increased global demand for French "Champagne" Since France's protections on "Champagne" have increased, the world has dramatically increased its consumption and demand for French "Champagne". This is a direct cause of the fact that "Champagne" is now almost exclusively from the French region of Champagne, meaning that the world's consistent demand for the the "Champagne" brand can now only be supplied by producers in Champagne, France. In other words, a massive and rising demand for "Champagne" has now been re-concentrated on French suppliers. Indeed, Champagne, France is having difficulty keeping pace with this demand and decided in March, 2008 to expand the region of Champagne, France to enable greater production and supply into the future. This is certainly economically beneficial to the French region of Champagne and France in general.
Calling sparkling wine Champagne diminishes the value of Champagne produced in France. If sparkling wine is produced in other regions of the world and is called "Champagne", the integrity of the image and value of Champagne that is produced in the French region of Champagn is diminished.
Calling all sparkling wine "Champagne" recognizes that the French invented it. The French have made a name for their invention, Champagne, so why not call that porduct by the same name all around the world?. This gives honor to their great invention. It also probably honors the French more than instituting laws that reserve the use of the name solely to French Champagne producers, whereby all other sparkling wine producers would give no name recognition to the French for their invention of Champagne.
Universal use of "Champagne" would promote French culture. Acknowledging that the use of the word Champagne gives some recognition to the French for their invention of sparkling wine, we can argue that the widespread use of the word "Champagne" helps France promote its image as a cultural leader in the world. Such a promotion entails subtle but important long-term benefits across France's high-culture, fine dining, and tourism industries.
Reserving Champagne name for French producers helps protect consumers Since it has been proven that "Champagne" has been produced through a unique procedure invented and traditionally applied in the French region of Champagne, reserving the term Champagne for French wines only assures that those wines underwent the specific production procedure and hence raise to a high quality standard. This is an advantage for customers worldwide that would in this way purchase an item whose quality and refinements are pre-assured.The term "champagne" would act as an effective communication mechanism to indicate its origin , production method and quality decreasing the collateral costs for customers of researching information about the product they buy. It saves time and allows for an informed choice that ultimately guarantees a high quality product.
Champagne producers are taking action to combat shortages While global supply of French, Champagne may be difficult currently solely out of Champagne, France, actions are being taken to increase supply. More wineries are being created in the region, more grapes plants are being planted, and the region itself was expanded in March, 2008 to enable more wineries to produce Champagne. This will help ensure that global demand is supplied.
Reserving "Champagne" for France helps protect cultural heritage of Europe The laws that reserve the use of the name of a local agricultural product to the local producers only helps build a framework that connects products with regions and with a historical tradition of special techniques of production specifically pertaining to that region.Trying to maintain its cultural heritage but also enhance cultural diversity within Europe, the EU supports such laws as an attempt to preserve cultural and traditional traits that give pride and value to local communities within the EU.
Protecting local traditional products is economically beneficial for Europe European countries face increasingly more demand for traditional local agricultural products that are outside the scope of mass industrial production. Protecting their status as unique traditional and culture specific products gives them a status of exquisite products that are highly valued both domestically and internationally. It this way the economic benefits of such actions are considerably high.
Reserving "Champagne" for French producers has caused a global shortage "Champagne" has become a ubiquitous global name, making the demand for it very high. But, if the production of "Champagne" is isolated to only the Champagne region of France, then the supply becomes very limited, while the demand for "Champagne" continues to be very high. This has, indeed, resulted in major shortages of "Champagne" in the French region of Champagne. They are simply not able to keep up with a rising global demand for the good. And, it seems that they will never be able to do so. Therefore, it seems necessary to open up the production of Champagne so that anyone can participate globally.
Swiss village Champagne should be able to call its wine Champagne The French base most of their claim to the exclusive production of "Champagne" to the fact that it is produced in the French Region of Champagne. A town by the same name exists in Switzerland. It also happens to produce sparkling wine and calls it "Champagne". The French have successfully campaigned against the right of this swiss town to do so. But, it seems that a double standard is being applied, in which the French argue that the name of their town Champagne matters in the production of Champagne only in their case, but not in the swiss case. It is unfair for them to then succeed in pressing the EU to enforce the double standard, and in large part simply because France is more powerful than Switzerland.
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]