How does a sparkling wine maker in California like Korbel be allowed to call their product "California Champagne" when Champagne only comes from Champagne, France?
2007-12-04 00:46:29 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
I think in legal terms, the word "champagne" (which, as you say, isn't free for anyone to use) is technically not identical when used in the phrase "California champagne." Korbel just can't call their product "champagne" with the modifier "California."
Champagne-like wines produced in Europe are not allowed to use the word "champagne" at all. I guess there's no chance of confusing a "California champagne" with the real thing, eh?
2007-12-04 00:53:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Beacuse the USA didn't sign the international agreement regarding wine origin names -- reason was that the USA was in Prohibition at the time and it didn't have any relevence.
In recent time, as a result of international trading agreements, the USA is phasing out use of geographical names such as Burgundy and Chablis. As part of that, US winemakers cannot use the word Champagne on its own now, but must prefix it with the region, eg California or New York.
And no doubt it won't be too long before they cannot miss-use the Champagne name at all.
It is interesting to note that generally its only the lousiest cheapest and most revolting US sparkling wines that miss use the champagne name; apart from Korbel, none of the good ones do so.
Korbel say, with some justification, that they have called their sparkling wine 'champagne' for well more than 100 years. They make pretty good fizz but times change -- its time they moved on, however good their fizz is, it is not Champagne and never can be.
2007-12-04 01:18:20 · answer #2 · answered by Pontac 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it isn't technically called Champagne here in the states. Only France can use that term. Legally it is sparkling wine made in the methode champenoise style. Meaning it is made in the same manner as French Champagne. It has been common practice for people to call all non French Champagne, champagne (lower case c). But the technical term for things like California bubbly, cava, prosecco, etc. is sparkling wine.
2007-12-04 08:17:56 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is still in court. They will likely have to drop "champagne" from the bottles eventually. Australia has already, and all of EU.
Port will be a more difficult one. "Sparkling Wine" replaces "Champagne" well enough, but what do you replace "Port" with if you make a sweet fortified red wine similar to those made in Oporto Portugal?
2007-12-04 01:09:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
California Sparkling White Sparkling Cali Chardonnay (or some thing varietal). Champagne is a neighborhood of France or a glowing white wine from that neighborhood. I do not know what your undertaking is or why it is insisting on utilising any one else's names.
2016-09-05 20:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is because they put the California in front of the Champagne. They don't claim it is from France.
2007-12-04 00:55:39 · answer #6 · answered by Iris R 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋