Burgundy or Bourgogne?

Amongst the flurry of regulation changes in Eu...and especially in French wines to better conform to EU labeling standards and appellations---the French authorities have announced that henceforth it will be considered incorrect to label or designate any wines from Burgundy as Burgundy.

Yep. Explanation, you say? Sure.

The French have determined the only French wine region that is identified by a non-French word is Burgundy. All the remainder---Savoie, Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux, et cetera, are French words. Therefore, despite the entire world (outside of France) having recognized Burgundy as an accepted name of the region on labels, and the French themselves having fought to prevent other countries from using the word "Burgundy" to identify any but French wines from that region, now the French maintain that "Burgundy" is an inappropriate name because English, and will not be allowed henceforth on bottles of that wine.

So the French say: No "Burgundy." Only "Bourgogne."

Okay. Their wine, their region, their call. (Although I think it's kinda stupid to dictate to the rest of the world what the French wish their wine to be identified as, when their is a brand identification around it that has been built for hundreds and hundreds of years. But that's just my opinion, and nobody asked me anyway.)

But here's my question: does this mean that the French just gave away the word "Burgundy" to anyone who wished to use it as an identifier with a wine they produce? I think a case can be made for that (not that I would want to, but some would.) I mean, if you say "We won't allow our wine to be called "Burgundy" anymore; it's not acceptable," aren't you ceding your 'right' to use or try to control the word you just rejected?

Also, too late for me. I'm an old fogie. I'm afraid I (and most of the English speaking world, at least of my generation) have been conditioned to use that word and we're not likely to change now. Of course, there's a tradition of the French Academy trying to prevent English words from entering their language. Not very successful in practice, either. But this is a bit different, I think.

Thoughts?

What really sucks is that it was awfully useful to be able to interchange Burgundy and Bourgogne is tasting notes and posts.

Honestly, I don't think it's as stupid as the decision to make the narrower apellation by far the biggest type on the label. I think people who are actually buying true Burgundy will adapt to Bourgogne, but even geeks have trouble remembering all the regions, villages, and grand crus. Heck, I can't even name the ten Beaujolais crus.

[David M. Bueker]

I am going to use "Burgundy" in all of my tasting notes from now on (I've been known to use Bourgogne from time to time) just to tick them off.

My position: What happens in France, stays in France.

[Robin Garr]

As to the question about "burgundy" being turned loose for anyone to adopt, I doubt that very much. Any corporation with rights to a name will invariably retain those rights even if it decides to discontinue regular use of the name. The CYA reasoning should be obvious.

So now I have to change the name of the dish to Beef Burgundon?

Therefore, despite the entire world (outside of France) having recognized Burgundy as an accepted name

I am not sure that is quite true. Burgundy is the English name for the region and wine. Other languages have different names. Not that it really invalidates any of the points you make.

Of course the French can legislate for what happens in their own country, but as far as I know they cannot simply declare it to be illegal anywhere else - that must be done as part of trade negotiations. I don't know about the US, but over here merchants typically use Burgundy on their own-label wines, so I can see there could be some upset.

Will they try to ban Claret next I wonder?

Steve, I believe they can force the issue (from their side) by requiring that all wine that leaves the region be labeled "Bourgogne" and not carry the word "Burgundy". And they are certainly within their rights, of course.

If an importer/distributor wanted to separately add a strip seal with the word Burgundy, that could be easily done.

And no, the French can't mandate what word other countries use on a daily basis; all they can do is systematically refuse to use the word themselves and hope that time and usage will eventually replace "Bourgogne" with "Burgundy". And that may well happen.

What is most likely is that those of us who have always used Burgundy professionally will now conform and teach to the preferred word Bourgogne...but still use Burgundy as a casual matter of familiarity. I'm assuming most wine journalists will shift to Bourgogne as being preferred usage.

In Germany, Burgundy is 'Burgund', Pinot Blanc is Weißburgunder, Pinot Gris is Grauburgunder, and Pinot Noir is Spätburgunder, and as far as I know, there has never been any problem with that usage. France must have a bigger problem with English than they do German!

Interestingly, the color that we know as Burgundy is called 'Bordeaux' in German.

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Interestingly, the color that we know as Burgundy is called 'Bordeaux' in German.

It's not Spatburgunder Trocken?

Does one typically see the English term “Burgundy” on the label of a French wine produced for the “home” market? So what you’re saying Hoke is the English term “Burgundy” cannot be placed on a label even for wines destined for an English speaking market by the producer? Are the Dutch members of the EU? Maybe they will not allow the French to use the term “Bourgogne”

Salute

Does one typically see the English term “Burgundy” on the label of a French wine produced for the “home” market? So what you’re saying Hoke is the English term “Burgundy” cannot be placed on a label even for wines destined for an English speaking market by the producer? Are the Dutch members of the EU? Maybe they will not allow the French to use the term “Bourgogne”

Salute

Yep, Victor, the French are saying official designation on the label is "Bourgogne".

Dutch? Is "bourgogne" Dutch?

The French term “Bourgogne” was derived from the name of a Germanic tribe originally from an island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark. When the tribe migrated from their homeland a “rocky place” they found another “rocky place” to settle.

Salute

Interestingly, the color that we know as Burgundy is called 'Bordeaux' in Germanl

And sometimes it is "Claret" in English

I have no problems with the French insisting that the official labelling should use the word "Bourgogne", particularly with reference to the appellation name. However, I think that should not extend to a back label, wholly or partly in English, intended to provide further help to English speaking consumers. I wonder what the French rules are on that point.

As for labelling carried out in an English speaking country, who can object to the use of the word "Burgundy" on the label? But it would be good practice IMO to indicate the wine's official appellation, where it has one, and include the word "Bourgogne" in French if it forms part of the appellation's name.

I have to say that I like the word "Bourgogne". In fact I have referred to this fact quite a few times here, makes me look like I have a bit of class .

Like the word "claret" too even though I am not from Manchester!

Interestingly, the color that we know as Burgundy is called 'Bordeaux' in German.

It's not Spatburgunder Trocken?

That may be the worst wine joke I've ever heard. Didn't stop me from laughing out loud, though.

Do you have a link to the source for this? Seems crazy to me, but so have many regulations.

Do you have a link to the source for this? Seems crazy to me, but so have many regulations.

No link at hand, Dale. This was information passed along by the French Wine Academy, but I don't have the precise wording and haven't been able to research it.

Will they try to ban Claret next I wonder?

Claret is already a protected 'semi-generic' name for the red wine of Bordeaux.

It wasn't the French who asked for it but the UK govt arguing that 'claret' has >350 years of usage in English for red Bordeaux wines.

I just find it strange that one can't find anything re this on Google news, fr.rec.boissons.vins, Decanter, Drvino, etc. What is the French Wine Academy?

Will they try to ban Claret next I wonder?

Claret is already a protected 'semi-generic' name for the red wine of Bordeaux.

Er, yes - that's my point. Burgundy is also protected, and know they are trying to ban its use where it was previously allowed.

Maybe the French realizing the difficulty it is to “protect” some of these so-called “semi generic” terms (which by themselves have more than one meaning), figure it’s just easier to totally ban them?

Salute