Champagne Laws and Regulations

There is a comprehensive set of rules and regulations for all wine produced in the Champagne region. These rules are developed under the auspices of the Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) to protect the area's economic interests. They include codification of the most suitable grape types, the most suitable growing places, and most aspects of viticulture (for example, vineyard yield, pruning, the degree of pressing, and the time that wine must remain on its lees before bottling). Only when a wine meets these requirements may it be labelled champagne. It can also limit the release of champagne to market to maintain prices. The rules agreed upon by the CIVC are submitted for the approval of the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO) final approval.