tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post3749549979588876927..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Update: What Calistoga means to ChampagneW. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-10656892606446562002011-10-07T11:52:18.827-07:002011-10-07T11:52:18.827-07:00Oh, this is truly sublime... another crafty way to...Oh, this is truly sublime... another crafty way to squander taxpayer's money while the fools, as usual, are oblivious. Where should such spectacularly significant legislation end, as it heads onto the slippery slope? I suppose it is good that Pontiac is no longer in business. However, General Motors might suffice as the next likely target. Many of the Pontiac vehicles are named after DrankGashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11108599247600811777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-14566048805046083292011-01-31T09:13:38.512-08:002011-01-31T09:13:38.512-08:00As someone who really enjoys sparkling wines, the ...As someone who really enjoys sparkling wines, the "champagne" on American bottles really bothers me. I do think it misleads the sparkling wine novice and hurts the U.S. producers that make great sparkling wine.<br /><br />I believe consumers think they are getting a product that is equal to or even superior to a good U.S. sparkling wine when they buy a U.S. wine labeled "champagne&Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-81731247020586268172011-01-28T18:57:34.574-08:002011-01-28T18:57:34.574-08:00Yes, hearty Burg., any wine labeled Chablis, whate...Yes, hearty Burg., any wine labeled Chablis, whatever else is a name-grab. Regarding Calistoga, project 10 or 15 years into the future, and I think that not grandfathering in a winery is the right thing to do. We want Oakville to mean Oakville, don't we? And just like Austin B., I practice calling them fizzies and sparkling wine, and explaining to customers that Champagne is actually a Donn Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-78827326398576506672011-01-28T12:09:43.066-08:002011-01-28T12:09:43.066-08:00I have less problem with Burgundy, but Burgundy is...I have less problem with Burgundy, but Burgundy is really the wrong word for the French stuff. Bourgogne, of course, is accurate.<br /><br />And, of course, I'm pretty much a wine geek for saying so.Austin Beemanhttp://www.austinbeeman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-59227434612268229822011-01-28T11:37:01.032-08:002011-01-28T11:37:01.032-08:00And so will Gallo have to stop marketing its "...And so will Gallo have to stop marketing its "Hearty Burgundy" - which contains no Pinot Noir, and is obviously not made in Burgundy?John Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01713763177727883586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-88204469321542234502011-01-28T08:32:21.492-08:002011-01-28T08:32:21.492-08:00I think that Korbel should step up to the high gro...I think that Korbel should step up to the high ground, and rename the product Sparkling Wine, and like the others, mention "methode Champenoise" or similar wording. Create good will. Set a high standard for truth. Sales will not suffer. Not at all. The publicity will likely push sales up. What a golden opportunity to create a big positive buzz in the news without spending millionsDonn Rutkoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-50496649232770050482011-01-27T14:49:25.416-08:002011-01-27T14:49:25.416-08:00I think the most important thing is educating the ...I think the most important thing is educating the consumer on the difference. But my opinion is that "Champagne" shouldn't be on the bottle of California sparkling wines. And the comment about Korbel not wanting to be put in the same category as other lesser quality sparking wines from the US... look at Schramsberg, who I believe is the best producer of sparkling wine in our TheColoradoWineauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14300658971368435465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-3836339702485147992011-01-27T14:29:53.991-08:002011-01-27T14:29:53.991-08:00As a retailer, I try to solve this problem in the ...As a retailer, I try to solve this problem in the following ways.<br />1. There is a sign in my Sparkling Wine section near the Champagne that reads, "Only Champagne is Champagne."<br />2. When someone asks for 'cheap Champagne,' I direct them to a $30-$40 bottle. When they fuss, I say, "Oh you mean Sparkling Wine..."<br />3. If they ask, I use the analogy of buyingAustin Beemanhttp://www.austinbeeman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-70713653545799492262011-01-27T13:27:46.502-08:002011-01-27T13:27:46.502-08:00I think Slovenia can't because the EU recogniz...I think Slovenia can't because the EU recognized Napa Valley as a wine region -- a courtesy we refuse to reciprocate.<br /><br />That said, I think Heitner is right in that this isn't -- or shouldn't be -- Europe vs. the US. Instead, it should be consumers and the wine industry vs. misinformation. Napa Valley really belongs on the side of Champagne in this fight for the reason you W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-30579417393520967282011-01-27T13:03:58.290-08:002011-01-27T13:03:58.290-08:00Now what do you think would happen if a French (ok...Now what do you think would happen if a French (ok, the French wouldn't do this, so how about a Slovenian) winery decided to label their new, bold cabernet as "Napa Valley" wine? Could they claim that Napa Valley has become a generic term that is synonymous with jammy, fruit-forward cabernet-based blends? I'm guessing that the door would not swing both ways...kschlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12810309689429676303noreply@blogger.com