Take the term Champagne. Generally, we all understand this to mean wine with bubbles. However, the French government’s restrictions mean this wine can only be made within the Champagne region of France, according to their regulations for aging, etc. So, other countries have to call their bubbles other names like prosecco, cava, or simply, sparkling wine. Similar to American trademark laws, more than 70 countries have promised to reserve the word Champagne for only French-designated sparkling.
By controlling the name, winemakers and governments attempt to protect the standards and exclusivity of their product. While this can be very confusing to customers, it ensures the end product has been made according to the standards of each country’s government regulations. Hopefully, the end result of this control is a win-win situation for makers and consumers. Wine producers can charge a higher price because their brand is less diluted, while we, as consumers, encounter a better product.
Although this is not as common in American wines, there is one frequently misused term. Many of us believe the phrase “meritage” (rhymes with heritage, not garage) is just another name for a blended wine, like a cuvée. This phrase was actually trademarked by predominantly Napa winemakers in 1988 as a way to let their Bordeaux-style blends be more easily marketed, and to avoid some of the federal restrictions on wine labeling. To use this exclusive phrase, wine makers must join an alliance of more than 250 members and pay a fee per case of product.
So, even if you use words like Band-aid instead of adhesive bandage in your everyday life, when talking about wine, the name has real value.
