The recognition of Champagne as a protected designation of origin dates back to 1936. (Representative)
Epernay, France:
Manufacturers of perfume, soda or even condoms hoping to add fizz to their products by labeling them “Champagne” quickly realize that it’s risky to name the world’s most famous bubbly in vain.
The powerful CIVC association, a conglomerate of 16,200 producers and 360 brands from the renowned eastern French region, tracks down anyone in the world who hijacks the Champagne name.
In accordance with the laws of France, the European Union and elsewhere, the label may only be used for sparkling wines produced in their precisely defined part of the country.
“That is the price of glory,” said Roxanne de Verin-Bohn, one of five lawyers on the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wines (CIVC) that looks after brand protection.
The body has hunted down countless samples of products using the Champagne name over the decades.
With the aid of the French government, and increasingly by foreign authorities, the association handles approximately 1,000 cases in 80 countries each year.
A high-profile controversy began in June when Russia drew applause over France by passing a law that says only Russian bubbly can be called “Champagne”, while French Champagne should be called “sparkling wine”.
Three French cabinet ministers have written to their Russian counterparts demanding the suspension of the new law, CIVC boss Charles Gomre said, adding he expected a response sometime in September.
Also in June, customs services in the northern French port of Le Havre seized 750 bottles of a cola drink labeled “Coron Fruit Champagne” that had been ordered from Haiti by a Parisian restaurant.
CIVC is planning to bring a civil suit against the drink’s distributor while trying to trace its maker.
“Our aim is not to win damages, but to ban the use of the Champagne name for this product that is sold in the French Caribbean and South America,” Varine-Bohan said.
‘We’ll get there’
About 120 countries have officially recognized the Champagne name as copyrighted, including China, “which protects it very well”, Goemre said.
Others still will not play ball, he said, including the United States, Russia, Belarus and Haiti.
“But we’ll get there,” he said.
The recognition of Champagne as a protected designation of origin dates back to 1936.
But even in 1843, a group of Champagne producers won a court order preventing Touraine producers in central France from using the label.
Most hunting for criminals goes with caution, but there are occasional high-profile cases such as the Yves Saint Laurent fashion group having to rename their “Champagne” perfumes.
“We do painstaking work against kidnapping our names. Nothing can stop us,” Varine-Bohan said.
Not even a village called Champagne in Switzerland, which claimed it should be allowed to market its wines using its name – CIVC sued and thanks to a Swiss-EU agreement, the Swiss Champagne challenge was banned. Gave.
The British dessert and a German cola drink, both called champagne, never stood a chance against an outbreak of CICV.
The association relies on a network established by Champagne houses in 10 countries as well as 70 law firms around the world for its intelligence.
But the bulk of the tip-off comes from champagne drinkers who won’t stand the abuse of the name of their favorite tipple.
They account for about 80 percent of cases, Gomere said.
As Champagne achieves worldwide fame, stealing its name “to be money”, he sighs.
“Our work is never done.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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