If champagne has to come from the Champagne region of France, how do I have a bottle of California Champagne?

a bad wiki-page is the best I can do, it says

“Korbel uses the term “Champagne” on most of its sparkling wine labels. Whereas most other US producers identify their sparkling wine as such, and indicate the location where their grapes are produced, Korbel relies on a “semi-generic” provision under U.S. law.[4]”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korbel_Champagne_Cellars

I get a feeling you’re drunk whilst writing this question, which is awesome.

simply put Korbel is in breach of copyright law. Although it appears that they gave a few cases of champagne to a Californian judge in return for some ludicrous legal terminology of the word Champagne.

@SeaTurtle I feel like if they were really in breach of copyright law, they would have been sued by now. They’ve probably found some legal loophole. Of course, if you’re a copyright lawyer, then you should tell me if I’m wrong. And perhaps see if someone in France is looking to sue Korbel and in need of representation….

Also from Wikipedia:

“The United States acknowledges the exclusive nature of the “champagne” term and bans the use from all new US produced wines.[2] Only those that had approval to use the term on labels before 2006 may continue to use it and only when it is accompanied by the wine’s actual origin (e.g. California)”

Seems to match exactly what you’re talking about :)

Because it has more to do with the process involved in making it.

Maybe the method was invented in the Champagne region.

In the same way. The Earl of Sandwich invented the Sandwich but sandwiches can be found anywhere.

@suzanna28: not in the case of Champagne. Like others have said, legally it has to be from the Champagne region of France in order to be called Champagne. Notice sparkling wines like Freixenet do not call themselves Champagne, they call themselves “sparkling wine.”

I am willing to bet the reason they get away with it in the OP’s example in this case is because they preface the word “champagne” with “California.”

I have also seen in the liquor store where they label a bottle something like “grapes from the Champagne region of France, grown in California.”

Because of the English language. There’s only one word. In German we got two words: Champagner (Sekt from Champagne) and Sekt (Sekt from everywhere else).

English gets around this by using the combination: French champagne

The EU has forbidden the use of the word “Champagne” from all labels not coming from that specific region. (it’s not just for wine. other agricultural products have to abide by this as well.)
As far as other countries go, well, each country establishes its own labeling laws, so really it’s up to them to do the right thing. The EU can refuse to sell wines which use the word “Champagne” and are not from Champagne, and they can strongly discourage makers like Korbel from using the word on the label, but that’s about it.
The labeling laws in the US allow the word “Champagne” only if accompanied by a region of origin, i.e. “California Champagne”. What counts is labeling law. The Korbel company may (and does) use the term “Champagne” without region of origin in any print material as well as their website, i.e. “Our Champagnes”. They lobbied very hard to get this compromise.
Other better, and more quality producers have more scruples and used to use the term “methode champenoise” but discontinued that after it, also, was outlawed by the EU. The acceptable term in the EU is “methode tradionnelle”. These better quality producers now just use the term “sparkling wine” and rely on the consumer to be educated on the topic. Many consumers couldn’t care less and that’s why they are fooled into buying lesser quality products based on incorrect terms. It’s charlatans standing on the shoulders of giants.

@breedmitch I knew when I got it that it wasn’t real champagne.

That’s because you are an educated consumer. :)

Thank you!

You are boobs welcome!