See, this is deceptive because Champagne is more like a brand, not a type of product. The type of product is « sparkling wine », « méthode champenoise » or « méthode traditionnelle ». Using Champagne in the name is lying.

« Steak » is not a brand, neither is « milk » or « sausage ».

Another example would be « California Kobe steak », it doesn’t exist. « California wagyu » sure, go for it, but not Kobe.

Despite the French attempts to pass laws dictating how language works, in English champagne is typically a type of product, not a brand.

Yeah, but because Champagne is such a success it's now the synonym for all sparkling wines. Mind you, I do use proper wording, I just don't understand what the fuss is all about.

The fuss is that if you call everything champagne, then champagne doesn’t exist anymore. It becomes impossible to know if you get the real stuff or not. This is very anti-consumer.

That’s not just a problem with « made in China » copycats, the US is a big offender too in this regard. I’d hate to be a consumer in the US because there’s no way to be sure about what you buy.