Decanter World Wine AwardsFrench fear 'chateau' may be allowed on non-estate imports
- Wednesday 19 September 2012
Writing on the wall? EU to rule on use of 'château' on imports
The decision will be taken as part of a wider meeting on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms at the European Parliament in Brussels on 25 September.
French producers say that allowing American wine producers to sell their wines in Europe using the French words château or clos would be an attack on French heritage – and competitive advantage.
In France, use of the term château is subject to strict control - it must refer to an AOC wine coming only from grapes that are harvested and vinified on a single estate.
In the United States there is no regulation – an estate can call itself a château even if it is buying in grapes from other growers in different regions.
Yann le Goaster, director of Federation des Grands Vins de Bordeaux, told Decanter.com: ‘Clearly in Bordeaux, we have been using the word château since the mid 19th century. It is part of our heritage, not just a marketing term, and we are determined to fight this.
‘The European Union should defend the rights of the members of its community.’
He said there was further concern that it could lead to other countries also using the terms château, cru, domaine or hospices on their labels, further confusing consumers.
‘This decision could render these terms meaningless. This is not just about Bordeaux, it concerns wine makers across France’.
In Burgundy, the Confederation des Appellations et des Vignerons de Bourgogne said in a statement, ‘Clos, a word which is truly part of Burgundy’s identity and heritage, is set to be tarnished by the European Commission… Burgundy winemakers strongly condemn this American initiative.’
Château Montelena, one of the most renowned ‘château’ wines in the US said that as export accounts for only 7% of its overall business, it did not have an official position on the subject.
Have your say!
Emily Pearce-Bibona
September 22 05:04
What makes a great wine region is more than just what is on the vine, it is a sense of identity. You can see this in Argentinian Malbecs, New Zealand SB's and Chile's fantastic Carmenere. It's embracing what the region is and doing it better than anyone else. Fundamentally, no- the US should not use the word "Chateau" on their label- it's ridiculous and misses the point of who and what they are.
Erispoë
September 20 17:34
I am a french wine lover. I just can't stand earing our wine makers claiming and claiming again. It's right that "Château" is a specific way of making wine, only with the grapes from the property. Good, but does that interest the customers? I do not think so. What we all want is quality and here we are talking about the technical way of making the wine. How many Bordeaux wine makers do not give a fuck to the quality of their wines just because as the word Château is on the bottle they know they will sell everything? Please gentlemen, stop looking at your navel. We, customers, will make the final choice. We are not donkeys.
Jason Brandt Lewis
September 20 15:52
I spent 35+ years in the California wine trade, working for wineries, as well as in retail and wholesale. I have ALWAYS thought the use of the terms "Chateau," "Clos," "Castello," "Quinta," etc. -- all of which I have seen repeatedly on U.S.-made wines -- has been ill-advised at best.
The wines are good enough to stand on their own as California / Washington / Oregon wines, etc., and need not imitate European wines by co-opting traditional European terms.
And let's not get started on semi-generic names like "Burgundy," "Claret," "Chianti," "Chablis," Rhine," "Sauterne" (sic), "Champagne," etc.