China Leads US In Champagne Protection

The Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the body representing producers of Champagne has succeeded in securing protection, as a geographical indication, for the word CHAMPAGNE and its Chinese transliteration "香槟"in China.

China is currently only the 12^th largest market for champagne exports in the world but it is the fastest growing.  Sales exceeded two million bottles in 2012, an increase of 52% since 2011 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-28/champagne-wins-protection-from-china-on-geographical-branding.html  and a quadrupling of sales since 2006.  With a population of 1.3 billion there is enormous potential for further growth and a spokesman for CIVC is quoted as saying the country is one of the biggest future markets for champagne. http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/champagne_gets_label_protection_in_china  It was therefore imperative to protect the name and to avoid it becoming a generic word for sparkling wine which would dilute the