Champagne is the most prestigious sparkling wine in the world made only from grapes grown on the chalky soils in Champagne,
the most northerly of France's wine regions. Read more about its protected status . . .
Champagne Is a Protected Word
The French wanted to protect the use of the term "Champagne" to refer only to Champagne made using traditional methods from grapes grown and wine produced in the Champagne region of France. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 and in this treaty, they included limits on the use of the word.
The French wish to protect the use of the term "Champagne" and reserve the term exclusively for sparkling wines that come from Champagne and are made using traditional methods from grapes grown and vinified in the Champagne region of France. A good place to start is by looking at the official Champagne website - an interesting page where they show how they are protecting the name from misuse internationally - view "Champagne Only Comes from Champagne, France".
Other French regions cannot use the name Champagne e.g. Burgundy and Alsace produce Cremant and sparkling wine produced in California is sometimes referred to Cuvee Napa. Countries such as the United States do so even when it has been made in the traditional method.
The USA and Other European Countries
There are many sparkling wines produced worldwide. In the European Union and many other countries, the name Champagne is reserved and used exclusively for the eponymous region and adhering to the standards defined for it. The subject was revisited in 2006 when the United States and the European Union signed a wine-trade agreement. This time The United States agreed to not allow new uses of certain terms that were previously considered to be semi-generic such as Champagne as well as Burgundy, Port and Chablis etc. The towns of Crozes-Hermitage, Larnage and Tain l'Hermitage in the Rhône Valley also commemorated Hermitage Hill's National Protected Status. For centuries, winemakers in Hermitage have worked hard to make this hill the most beautiful possible, treating their land with respect and humility. They wish to continue in the same way and make the name of these unique wines even more prestigious around the world.
Disapproval of Using the Word Champagne to Describe a Product Colour
When Apple wanted to call their new iPhone colour "Champagne" there were comments of disapproval in France! Charles Goamaere of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) to L'Union l'Ardennais pinted out that Champagne varies in colour and they say that a Champagne colour, therefore, does not exist. they implied that any company wanting to use the name Champagne would be doing so to attract all the benefits that surround the name Champagne.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us at bespoke@champagneandgifts.co.uk or 0800 849 7849
The Champagne & Gift Company
Sending Gifts Around The World
Sourcing from top producers we pride ourselves on the quality, taste and smoothness of our Champagne.
Our prestige award-winning Grand Reserve Champagne is shipped directly from France and we supply this to customers under their own brands.
We also supply Champagnes from many of the major Champagne Houses and each gift is beautifully presented and comes with its own gift message card.
Read more about our Champagnes
Leading supplier of personalised Champagne and Branded Champagne gifts