Swiss Vintners to Give Up ‘Champagne’ Name
Switzerland agreed Wednesday to change the name of a locally produced wine so that it no longer shares the name of the much better-known French sparkling wine.
The concession came after French displeasure over Swiss winemakers’ use of the prestigious “Champagne” name for their unbubbly white, which sells about 50,000 bottles each year.
Swiss vintners contend that they were only following the Swiss practice of naming the wine after their village, which has been called Champagne, with variations in spelling, for more than 1,100 years.
After a session with European Union representatives in Brussels became snagged on the issue, however, the Swiss agreed the name must disappear from the labels of its wine after a two-year transition period.
The villagers of Champagne were resigned to losing the right to use the name.
“If the Swiss confederation gives in, it will have to look at financial compensation,” vineyard manager Albert Banderet was quoted as saying in the daily Le Matin newspaper.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
