How Do You Know if Champagne is Real or Fake?

Lovers of fine bubbles, be aware that Champagne can be a victim of fraud! Vinatis sheds light on how to recognise a real Champagne from fake.

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A REAL CHAMPAGNE COMES FROM A PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN

A real Champagne comes from the Champagne region in France and nowhere else! This sparkling wine, which is the pride of France, was born in the 17th century thanks to the monk whose name is well known in the Champagne industry: Dom Pérignon. The only possible method for the production of Champagne is called the traditional method, or méthode champenoise, where the wine goes through its second fermentation in the bottle in which it is sold.

Although there are many methods of making sparkling wine, the traditional method is the only one recognised for the Champagne AOC. It is thanks to this method that Champagne has achieved such international renown. The traditional method brings a lot of complexity to the final product thanks to the carefully selected reserve wines and the yeast autolysis, contributing to the appearance of unique aromas.

CHAMPAGNE AOC

Champagne is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC), which means that it must meet strict and precise criteria set out in a specification. The latter, which every Champagne producer must follow to the letter, sets out the standards and methods for viticulture, vinification, maturation and bottling. It establishes, for example, the authorised grape varieties, which are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. This specification also presents the classifications of villages that can benefit from the title of Premier Cru or Grand Cru. In Champagne, the best crus are not reserved for specific sites, but for entire villages.

The creation of an AOC is not simple and respecting it allows the constant development of quality products, helping to maintain the solid reputation that the brand has built over time.

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FAKE CHAMPAGNE

Although the name Champagne is jealously guarded by France, some international sparkling wine producers do not hesitate to copy the methods of making the famous sparkling wine. The European Union (EU) aims to respect the AOC or AOP, for Protected Designation of Origin. Outside the EU, however, producers do not have to abide by such rules. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) also aims to ensure that geographical designations are respected in its member countries. Outside the EU and outside WTO member countries, it can be difficult or even complicated for consumers to identify a genuine Champagne from a fake.

THE "RUSSIAN CHAMPAGNE" CONTROVERSY

Is there such a thing as Russian Champagne? Well yes and no... Following a new law on the sale of alcoholic products on Russian territory, Russian sparkling wines will now have the word 'Champagne' written on their labels and not simply 'sparkling wine', as was the case before. The new law, signed by the Russian President on 2 July 2021, also obliges French Champagnes sold on Russian territory to abandon the word 'Shampanskoe' for 'Champagne' in Cyrillic. From now on in Russia, the real Champagne from the Champagne AOC will have to be labelled with the word 'sparkling wine' in Cyrillic on the back label and any bottle containing the word 'Shampanskoe' will be considered a counterfeit.

Since the vast majority of Russians read the Cyrillic script and not the Latin script, differentiating a real Champagne from the sparkling wine that originated in their country is complicated. Much more affordable with a different taste from real Champagne, Russian sparkling wine meets the demand of the Russian working classes. Needless to say, the announcement of this new law caused a reaction from the Champagne Committee, which has protected the name in 120 countries to this day.

THE "SWISS CHAMPAGNE" CONTROVERSY

A small wine-growing village in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland is named Champagne. The village, located near Lake Neuchâtel, has a total of 28 hectares of vineyards. For a long time, the winegrowers defended the right to use the words 'Commune de Champagne' to market their still wines. Although this request had previously been accepted, it was cancelled at the request of the Champagne Committee. It is true that Champagne wine in France and Champagne wine in Switzerland have nothing in common, especially since one is effervescent and the other is not.

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HOW TO RECOGNISE A REAL CHAMPAGNE?

As Champagne is a highly controlled consumer product, certain information on its label is mandatory. Never again doubt the authenticity of your bottle of Champagne thanks to these elements which confirm that your sparkling wine is indeed a genuine Champagne:

Name of the product: Champagne
Name or company name of the producer: Name of the municipality of the registered office or name of the municipality where the wine is made, if different from the registered office.
Mention of the sweetness level (dosage): Brut Nature, Extra-Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
Professional registration number and initials of the professional category
Origin: from Champagne AOC in France
ABV: alcohol content
Nominal volume
Batch number
Allergens: sulphites, among others.
CRD capsule: the green representative rights capsule containing the word 'Champagne' followed by the codes R (Récoltant) or N (Négociant).
Health warning label

PROFESSIONAL CHAMPAGNE CATEGORIES:

Have you ever noticed those two capital letters on Champagne capsules or label? What exactly do they refer to? These letters specify the professional category and thus give you information about the viticulture, vinification, bottling, as well as the type of marketing.

NM: NÉGOCIANT MANIPULANT

This is the case of a company buying grapes from winegrower(s). This company vinifies and produces its own Champagne from grapes that are partially or entirely purchased from other growers. A part of the grapes can be sourced from the company's own vineyards. The bottles of Champagne can then be marketed under the company's name or brand. This category concerns almost 50% of the Champagne houses on the market.

RM: RÉCOLTANT MANIPULANT

The winegrower cultivates their own vines, vinifies their harvest and makes their own Champagne, which is called Grower Champagne. They bottle and market their cuvées under their own name or brand. The winegrower controls all the stages from A to Z.

RC: RÉCOLTANT-COOPÉRATEUR

The winegrower entrusts his grapes to a cooperative. They then recover the product once the second fermentation in the bottle has taken place. This Champagne is then marketed under the name or brand of the winegrower.

CM: COOPÉRATIVE DE MANIPULATION

A cooperative cellar to which members bring their grapes. The employees of the cooperative are responsible for pressing, vinification and blending. The Champagnes are then marketed under the cooperative's name or brand.

ND: NÉGOCIANT DISTRIBUTEUR

A distributor markets under its own brand name bottles purchased from a Champagne producer.

MA: MARQUE D'ACHETEUR

Buyer's brand or Auxiliary brand this category refers to a retailer who markets a Champagne of which they are not the producer. It can also be a secondary brand owned by a handling merchant, a Champagne in the name of a supermarket distributor, or a merchant distributing Champagne made by another merchant or winemaker.