True Champagne is named from the area of France,anywhere else its called Sparkling Wine.?

Question

So, whats stopping,say Scotland naming a town called Whisky, then getting the rights to the word Whisky. Russia, naming a town called Vodka, then having rights on the vodka market? Could this ever happen? And if not, why not?

Answer 1

It's called appellation d'origine and it relates only to established names. With the European Union and now with globalization conflicts did arise, and have had to be resolved. California winemakers used to use chablis and burgundy and champagne as descriptors; these were phased out over a period of years. They were never used for exported wine.

The Swiss town of Champagne which has produced still wines for centuries, has a problem because the EU won't allow the word to appear anywhere on a label -- and they fight their battles through the World Trade Organization.

There is, as you suggest, a constant game at trying to expand the list of names, and even invent new ones. Parma ham has now been protected, even to the extent that it has to be sliced in Parma.

But names that are clearly descriptive can't be controlled -- not if they've never been controlled in any country and do not represent the name of a pre-existing town that has long exported the sort of food or drink in question.

Answer 2

That could not happen. Getting the rights to a name does not count for anything or anyone already having that name. In fact, if you got the rights to a name and then someone comes along who can prove they had the name first, you would lose the rights.

Champagne is the name of the town Champagne was first made. That's why it's called Champagne and not Paris or Berlin.

Since this is the case, and it's called Champagne because that's where it came from, than of course no one else can call it Champagne. That only makes sense.

Answer 3

champagne is not a district as stated it is an aera in france like burgundy bordeaux and so on.french are clever you see they decided years ago to protect their vignards so that NOBODY in the world can use them as a name.i guess some other countries did not do this;but it is a verty well known fact that vodka is from nothern europe countries;wihisky from scotland and so on.do not forget also that nearly all wines from any country around the world comme ceps or roots if you prefer from mother land france

Answer 4

you can make champagne and call it champagne, france doesn't "own the rights" to the word champagne. it's just that people who know better understand that champagne is a district in france where champagne originated. personally i like Asti Spumati, from italy.