Official Champagne Grand Tasting Returns to San Francisco
Event showcases 37 Champagne brands showing strength and diversity of famous region
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Champagne region's annual official tasting in the United States kicks off today at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square in San Francisco. Trade and media attendees will have the opportunity to taste more than 100 unique wines from 37 different Champagne producers.
The event celebrates Champagne: the sparkling wine produced in the French region of the same name. Only after strict appellation regulations are followed – from harvesting specific plots by hand to minimum time in the caves – can a wine be labeled Champagne. Organized by the Comité Champagne, which represents all the grape growers and houses of Champagne, the tasting gives media, trade and the wine industry a special opportunity to taste and increase their knowledge of a wide variety of wines from the region available on the U.S. market.
"This is the fifth time we have held a Champagne Tasting in the United States and the second time we have hosted in San Francisco," said Sam Heitner, director of the Champagne Bureau, USA, the official representative of the Comité Champagne in the United States. "The region is committed to quality, and we are proud to be able to pour over 100 wines from Champagne at this event, providing media and trade a special window into the wines produced by the growers and houses of Champagne."
Thibaut Le Mailloux, communications director of the Comité Champagne, is attending the tasting along with leadership from a number of prominent Champagne producers.
"Champagne is a location, 90 miles northeast of Paris; this wine region is integral to our unique product. That is why we say that 'Champagne only comes from Champagne' and why virtually every country in the world reserves the Champagne name exclusively for these wines," said Le Mailloux. "With this event, we seek to share the wonderful wines that come from Champagne, increase understanding of the Champagne region in the United States and reaffirm the organization's long-standing commitment to the U.S. market."
Earlier this year, Canada officially reserved the "Champagne" name for wines only from Champagne, France, thereby joining over 100 other countries including Australia, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and the European Union in standing for truth-in-labeling and ensuring their consumers are confident that wines labeled Champagne come from Champagne, France.
The event is part of an October full of festivities celebrating America's love of Champagne, concluding with the fifth annual Champagne Day on Friday, October 24. Visit the official #ChampagneDay events page to find events nationwide or post news about your own celebrations on Twitter and Facebook.
In 2013, Champagne shipped nearly 305 million bottles worldwide, with more than 17.9 million bottles shipped to the United States, making it Champagne's second largest export market behind the UK.
About the Champagne Bureau, USA
The Champagne Bureau, USA, is the official U.S. representative of the Comité Champagne, a trade association which represents the grape growers and houses of Champagne, France. The Bureau works to educate U.S. consumers about the uniqueness of the wines of Champagne and expand their understanding of the need to protect the Champagne name. For more information, visit us online at www.champagne.us. Follow us on Twitter at @ChampagneBureau and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChampagneBureau.
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SOURCE Champagne Bureau, USA
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