Has anyone else nearly shot their TV?

[Jerry D Mead]

RE the genericness of the name champagne (note that I differentiate between "champagne" and "Champagne", unlike "burgundy," "chablis" and "chianti," for which there are suitable alternate terms, there is no other word so universally used and understood as "champagne," (in the same way that taxi is used in most every language) a name the French waited far too long to even attempt to defend and of which they would have had little success in doing so had it not been for the power of the EU.

When one hears a cork pop anywhere in the world, folks don't think Cava, sekt, spumante, or (even sitting in a cafe in St. Helena) Napa Valley Brut. The exclamation is universal..."Oh! Someone is having champagne."

No one but wine geeks even understand what those other terms mean, and there really shouldn't be any confusion caused between Schramsberg, Korbel or even Andre (all products using the semi-generic name), because of the geographic qualifier that is required by federal regs, as in "California Champagne," "New York Champagne" or "American Champagne."

Champagne, like linoleum, aspirin and dozens of other once-protected names, has truly become generic and should be permitted.

You are now about to see a poor defenseless wine writer get pounced on from every direction, since this subject seems to inflame almost everyone.

Jerry "Going Into Hiding" Mead