I guess White Castle doesn’t count:
America’s wine producers have finally been rumbled, thanks to a lack of castles in the US.From 2008 US vineyards will no longer be able to boast that a wine hails from a château unless they can prove its grapes are grown within sight of a castle.
Other European “traditional expressions”, such as vintage, noble and classic, will also be banned unless they are true.
The new rules are part of an EU/US deal to police the transatlantic wine trade. Existing US wines can still be given European names, such as burgundy, champagne and claret, but new wines will have to be given a US name.
I can understand that it’s sorta kinda obnoxious to call sparkling wine “champagne” unless it actually comes from the Champagne region of France, or labeling a food “natural” when it contains preservatives.
But not being able to call a wine “Château Le Kip” unless I can see a castle from my vineyard? What exactly does that accomplish except to create a false language differential?
What the Eurocrats really want is for American vintners not to use European words at all. Which suggests to me that the Eurocrats think Europeans are mind-bogglingly stupid. So stupid that they can’t figure out where their wine comes from.
Interesting also that there is no mention of wines from Australia, New Zealand, Chile, etc.
I hope some eccentric vintner in Napa builds a castle just to stick it to Europe. I would like that very much.
7 responses so far ↓
Link dolphin // Sep 16, 2005 at 2:29 pm
I wonder how their defining "castle."
Were I an American vintner, I'd be getting out my LEGOs right about now.
Link Downtown Lad // Sep 16, 2005 at 3:06 pm
I understand the French here. It is extremely rare for a French wine to use that term, as most wines are not made near a castle. So Americans are totally diluting the term if they abuse this. And I think most wine experts would agree.
It will avoid people getting disappointed if they visit the vineyard and find out that there is no castle there. And drinking the wine will be that much more pleasant if you know there is truth in advertising.
Link Tony // Sep 16, 2005 at 3:25 pm
I don't drink and I'll happily donate money to build that castle just so that wine exists.
Link KipEsquire // Sep 16, 2005 at 3:36 pm
DL, I think you're grasping here. "Château" doesn't convey any useful information the way "champagne" does. So there is nothing in the term to dilute.
Link andywsydney // Sep 16, 2005 at 5:44 pm
The french succeeded in stopping aussie producers using french grape varietal names years ago now (unsure about "chateau" however) – result: french consumers are now extremely familiar with the names of "new-world" grapes (to the chagrin of french poducers!!!)
Link the friendly grizzly // Sep 17, 2005 at 7:08 pm
How about the concept of "a man's home is his castle"? I am going to encourage a step-cousin of mine in the Napa Valley to consider this in the naming of his products…
Link Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of ... // Jun 23, 2006 at 6:28 am
A Rose By Any Other Name
I must be feeling particularly irritable today, because this really got to me…