Comments on: Say champagne, mean Champagne

By: Russ Kane

Russ Kane — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:43:18 +0000

You might find this interesting (and you might also think I’m crazy). But, I think I’m right:

A New Way to Elevate Texas Wine Production and Quality: The Champagne Connection http://www.vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=7149

Russ

By: Russ Kane

Russ Kane — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:41:43 +0000

This just shows you how screwed up wine labeling laws are in the USA and how badly they are enforced. Just last week on a bottle Becker Vineyard Riesling, I say Texas Appellation on the front label but “For Sale in Texas Only” on the back label.

Russ Kane

By: Say champagne, mean Champagne | Shelby n Wine

Say champagne, mean Champagne | Shelby n Wine — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:34:04 +0000

[...] Say champagne, mean Champagne. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]

By: Patrick Frank

Patrick Frank — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:44:03 +0000

Dave is 100% correct. But still, languages evolve; words change meaning; nouns become verbs; legislation has altered that process only rarely.

By: Dave Erickson

Dave Erickson — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:47:59 +0000

Champagne has been around a lot longer than Xerox. And it is not simply a brand or trade name. It is a place, a region, a political entity. For that matter, it isn’t a symbol of an outdated technology, either.

By: Patrick Frank

Patrick Frank — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:03:57 +0000

For a long time, photocopies were indeed called Xerox copies. My only point is that language evolves organically, and it evolved in the USA. Folks who want to reserve the name Champagne for the French sparkling wine of a certain region are trying to stop that organic process of linguistic evolution. Such efforts usually fail, but change can happen gradually, as with Levi’s, Xerox machines, Kleenex, Hoovers, and others.

By: Quizicat

Quizicat — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:12:15 +0000

“…,there are words for sparkling wine but not in English” Uhhh, how about sparkling wine? I think that’s English.
According to your theory every copy machine should be able to be labelled a Xerox machine.

By: Patrick Frank

Patrick Frank — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:23:28 +0000

Yeah, calling CA sparkling wine Champagne is technically incorrect. But look: There’s no other word in English! In Spanish, German, Italian, there are words for sparkling wine but not in English (bubbly sounds ridiculous). That’s why the custom began of calling anything that bubbles Champagne. I think we need to get over ourselves on this one. Calling it Champagne is not a crime; it’s in the nature of language that words change their meaning across time & space.

By: Gosh

Gosh — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:36:03 +0000

The vineyards of Champagne are one of the pillars of French viticulture and international fame, thanks to great Benedictine monk Dom Perignon. More infos you will find at http://www.vin-vigne.com/vignoble/vin-champagne.html
Everyone has to agree, save water drink champagne, cheers !

By: Dave Erickson

Dave Erickson — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:10:15 +0000

It is tempting to trivialize this, since the name is used only on downmarket sparklers, sold to consumers who probably don’t know and/or don’t want to know that Champagne is a place. Even so, using the word “Champagne” on a sparkling wine that is not from Champagne is, very simply, a lie. It is an indicator of bad faith on the part of the producer. It should not be allowed.

By: RobLL

RobLL — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:17:43 +0000

Ever since Wine Trials found Ste Michelle Domaine at $12 outperformed according to critics compared the the $150 Dom Pérignon IIRC
I have really wondered if this all is a tempest in a teapot.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:40:51 +0000

It is a trade agreement and would take, as trade agreements do, a long time even if started in 2006. Weibel (Lodi) has multiple retail and private COLAs for California “Champagne.” Their “Non-Alcoholic ‘Chateau de Fleur’ California Champagne” is apparently now also called “Champagnette” on website though I couldn’t find a COLA registration for “Champagnette” nor a registered trademark. (But I am happy to say the US gov websites are working fine, #Sandy.)

By: Bill Haydon

Bill Haydon — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:04:26 +0000

While I love the idea of the French pumping out wine branded with “Napa,” there’s only one problem with it. Those words aren’t exactly selling points in Europe.

Perhaps they could export those wines to steakhouses in Omaha, Vegas and Epcot Center. That’s where the market for Napa wine is.

By: Quizicat

Quizicat — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:33:10 +0000

Diluting the branding also dilutes the mystique.
Which makes it harder to support the prices.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:25:40 +0000

Champagne’s (in the French meaning) bigger problem is that the wines don’t give value for money and justify their high prices only through marketing. I drink Cremant d’ [insert region here] whenever possible.