PARIS – A new Russian regulation requiring international champagne makers to include a “sparkling wine” reference on the bottom of their bottles was slammed by France’s champagne industry group on Monday (July 5). In a statement, the “Comite Champagne” (Champagne Committee) said it was also appealing to French and European Union diplomats to modify the law.
The regulation, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, mandates all foreign sparkling wine makers to mark their product as such on the back of the bottle, but not on the front.
Makers of Russian “shampanskoye” may continue to refer to their products simply as “shampanskoye.”
Maxime Toubart and Jean-Marie Barillere, co-presidents of the French Champagne company, have requested that all exports to Russia be halted for the time being.
They claimed that the Champagne name, which refers to the French Champagne-producing region, was protected in 120 nations.
“The Champagne Committee regrets that this legislation does not provide clear and honest information about the origins and characteristics of wine to Russian consumers,” it stated, adding that the measure jeopardizes two decades of dialogue between Russia and the European Union./n
