Champagne expands domain to answer demand surge “It formalizes the

Champagne expands domain to answer demand surge

“It formalizes the organization of the geographic area into two zones: the working zone of 675 districts, and the (grape) production zone of 357 districts”

By Brian Rohan

PARIS (Reuters) – Faced with surging demand, France’s champagne producers have decided on a very simple way to boost production — by widening the vineyard.

A decision made by a French agricultural body on Thursday will allow producers to extend the area in which they are allowed to make the world’s most famous sparkling wine, until now restricted by a law dating back to 1927.

Sparkling white or rose wines are made in many parts of the world but only producers in a designated region of eastern France have the right to call their product champagne, under laws that establish it as a “controlled term of origin”, known under its French acronym AOC. Read more