Best Selling Wines: Regional Names
- There are many types, kinds, and classifications
of wine.
Historically, wines have been known by names reflecting
their origin, and sometimes style: Bordeaux, Rioja,
and Chianti are all effectively trade names, reflecting
the most popular wines produce by the named region.
These "appellations" (as they are known
in French) frequently dictate not only where the grapes
in a wine were grown, but also which grapes went into
the wine and how they were vinified.
The appellation system is strongest in the European
Union, but a related system, the American Viticulture
Area, restricts the use of certain regional labels
in America, such as Napa Valley and Willamette Valley.
These historical designations can be confusing. For
example, in the European Union, wine labeled Champagne
must be made from grapes grown and fermented in the
Champagne region of France.
The United States (except Oregon) and Canada complicate
this system by allowing the use of some European appellations
as generic wine names:
- Bordeaux
- Bourgogne (Burgundy)
- Champagne
- Chianti
- Asti
In the U.S. these terms are known as semi-generics.
Some blended wines are marketing terms, and use of the
name is governed by trademark or copyright law rather
than a specific wine law.
Meritage is generally a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot, and may also include Cabernet
Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. |
