Champage AOC increasing in size

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Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/16/2008 7:57:24 AM

rbazinet

Posts: 188
Joined: 4/13/2008
From: Toronto, Ontario
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The Saturday June 14th issue of the NY Times had an interesting article on Champagne, some (but not all) of which can be found online for free here:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/14/business/0614-CHAMPAGNE_index.html

It is a good read for those who can access the full article. The just is we may see ~100 million more bottles of champagne produced as the area given the “champagne privilege” AOC, will be expanded. Quite interesting is the “candidate” AOC land is currently valued at about 6000 Euros per hectare (2.5 acres). The Times article mentions it could jump to 1,000,000 Euros per hectare, if selected. I doubt we will see a decrease in champagne price in spite of the increased production, but the crops that will be replaced, such as French beets, will surely get more expensive (latter two comments are my opinion, not the Times).

Cheers,
Richard

Post #: 1

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 3:30:52 AM

Rak

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Joined: 7/6/2007
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Hello Richard,

I couldn't access the article from my computer. Are more potential vineyards within Champagne being incorporated into the AOC or are they extending the boundaries of this delimited area? Or a bit of both?

Happy drinking!

(in reply to rbazinet)

Post #: 2

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 5:11:11 AM

rbazinet

Posts: 188
Joined: 4/13/2008
From: Toronto, Ontario
Status: offline

Rak,
Looks like the NY times has changed the link to the add. I guess we don't see enough adds on a day to day basis ... anyways.
It seems they are going to extend the boundaries which will allow new vineyards into the area. They are supposed to announce what areas are going to be within the new boundaries soon.

(in reply to Rak)

Post #: 3

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 5:18:10 AM

Rak

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Joined: 7/6/2007
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Cheers Richard,

Wonder if there will be any impact on quality? All those young vines?

Happy drinking!

(in reply to rbazinet)

Post #: 4

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 8:23:26 AM

rbazinet

Posts: 188
Joined: 4/13/2008
From: Toronto, Ontario
Status: offline

Rak,
We could always speculate. However, it seems to me there is only one way to find out for sure. For speculations sake I would guess there will be little change. Rather there will be more low quality, moderate quality and [hopefully] high quality production. Basically, more of what currently exists. What do you think?

It would also be fun, from a collection perspective, to have non-AOC “champagne” and true “champagne” from the same vineyard. Literally to have a vertical tasting before and after AOC designation.

(in reply to Rak)

Post #: 5

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 9:27:46 AM

Pontac

Posts: 347
Joined: 8/3/2006
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I think you are being too dismal about this.

This is not the first time the AoC areas have been adjusted.

Extendingthe boundaries makes it sound like there is an circled area in which are nothing but vineyards, and that that is being made larger, but in fact the area covered by the AoC is a patchwork of AoC classes vineyards and land used for other purposes, If some of that land is now recognised as being able to produce AoC Champagne, why not? Or are we saying that the committee that defined down the current AoC vineyards did a perfect job that can never, ever be improved on?

Vineyards are being replanted all the time, there is always a mix of older and young vines.

The vineyards of Champagne maybe sacred terroir to some, but I've seen earthmoving equipment there adding slopes to get space for more vines.

In the end, trust the name on the label.

A lot of people here are happy to buy wines from certain new World regions where there is nothing whatever like the AoC laws controlling varieties, viticultural practises, winemaking methods, aging & etc in Champagne.

(in reply to rbazinet)

Post #: 6

RE: Champage AOC increasing in size - 6/17/2008 10:44:53 AM

rbazinet

Posts: 188
Joined: 4/13/2008
From: Toronto, Ontario
Status: offline

Pontac,
Thank you and I totally agree with you. My understanding is that this will be the first major AOC champagne designation/addition since 1927.

I accept your points around AOC designation. I have always found the deep historical culture around wine, especially the debate about what could/should be called wine, fascinating. “Traditional Terroir” vs “Black Wines” at the one extreme and in this case a committee designating new areas, perhaps across the street from non-AOC areas. I find this debate interesting (it bores my significant other to the point of sleep). Understanding it may help explain the “French paradox” or the alarming food patterns in other countries.

My intention was not to be dismal.
The NY Times article by Doreen Carvajal appeared on the front page of the Business Section, not the arts and culture section. 100 million extra bottles of wine per year on a current 330 million bottle per year market … is Champagne trying to correct increasing prices in current markets or perhaps preparing for a surge in growing Asian or Russian economies? Perhaps even being progressive?

Cheers,
Richard

(in reply to Pontac)

Post #: 7