This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
New names split English wine industry
Two new names coined for English sparkling wine have been far from welcomed by the English wine industry.
Hampshire-based producer Coates & Seely, founded by Nicholas Coates and Christian Seely, has coined the term “Britagne†(pronounced “Britannia†rather than to rhyme with Champagne), in the hope it will be adopted for English sparkling wine.
Seely, managing director of the wine division of AXA Millésimes, which includes Château Pichon-Longueville in Bordeaux, believes English sparkling should have its own generic name to reflect its increasingly high standing.
“We don’t believe that “English Sparkling Wine†does our product justice – it’s too literal and bland,†Seely said.
Wines would have to be made from the Champagne grapes and have a second fermentation occur in bottle in order to be designated “Britagne’â€, while the production method would be referred to as the “Méthode Britanniqueâ€.
Reaction from the English sparkling wine community has been mixed. Both Nyetimber and Ridgeview agree that there is a case to be made for a category name.
However, Nyetimber’s CEO Eric Hereema thinks Coates & Seely are jumping the gun: “It’s still too early for a category, and so too early to decide on a name,†he said.
Meanwhile, Ridgeview’s CEO Mike Roberts has been working on plans to see the term “Merret†adopted as the generic term for English sparkling wine, after the 17th century English physician Dr Christopher Merret – the first to document the deliberate addition of sugar for the production of sparkling wine.
Ridgeview owns the copyright for the term and uses it own its own products, but envisages it being a publicly owned trademark used by accredited producers meeting strict production criteria.
“We’d have virtually the same regulations as in Champagne, if not more stringent,†said Roberts. Producers using Seyval Blanc, for example, would automatically be excluded.
In Cornwall, Camel Valley Vineyard says it would never adopt any such generic term. “We’ve spent 20 years getting to where we are today, and we wouldn’t want to be lumped together with wines of varying quality,†said owner Bob Lindo.
It seems that the industry all agree the need for some kind of branding, allied to a quality standard.
Not easy to find a name that everyone will be happy to work with…if the Australians failed to find one, why should we assume we can do it?
Perhaps the industry might consider creating a quality seal a la Kite Mark which might satisfy that part of the problem the industry agrees upon while avoiding the part that it cannot agree upon?
Dear matthew
We’ve have quality wine schemes. PDO and PGI wines have passed an analysis and a tasting before release. Add to that IWC, IWSC and Decanter awards, as well as UKVA national awards and we’ve got it surrounded!
Kind regards
Bob Lindo
I take your point Bob but I wonder how all that looks to a consumer, if at all – M
It seems such a shame that we are starting to become embroiled in arguments about generic names. Surely the consideration should be that we can have a name that differentiates it from the French sparkling wine. Perhaps we should be collectively considering what is best for the market. I really don’t think that Merret is an attractive name and neither do I believe that anybody will care if it is somebodies name who pioneered the process. Britagne is a marketable name, it has a closer enough similarity to be associated with champagne but also indicates that it is from Great Britain. The arguments should be about whose brand is best, not the generic designation for the drink. Lets go for it, the longer we argue the longer it will take to attract the market. DB
My vote would go to Merret. I sincerely believe it actually means something, has real provenance and expresses something quintessentially English with regards to wine, its heritage and a genuine sense of place. I don’t particularly think that the ‘Franglais’ sounding “Britagne” has any relevance or meaning whatsoever.
I just wanted to voice my opinion and give my two euros worth towards the cause.
Best wishes
Robert
Robert Giorgione
Founder of www.robertgiorgione.com and @rovingsommelier
I cannot understand why Britagne is even being considered. Why are we trying to make an English or (British Inc Wales) name for English Sparkling wine try to sound like Champagne and look like a French word. We need to be celebrating the fact that this is NOT French and is in fact English with an English word that we can start getting the public to buy into. This is not going to be quick fix, I realise that but Britagne is not the answer. Let’s put this out to the public for suggestions!!
dear friends, here is an Italian fan of English sparkling wines! I don’t know them very well but I like all the efforts done to improve the quality and I think you have to be proud of that!!! Regarding the denomination, we have not been able in Italy as well to find a name for all our sparkling wines (we have the name “Talento” which is pretty unknow), the better wines come from the region of Franciacorta which works for both legal and marketing term (but, in my opinion, not very efficient to attract consumers). To be honest I like the “Britagne” idea, don’t worry if it sounds too french, they are very good in marketing so why not take advantage of them once??? many thanks to all and cheers from Florence!