The revision of the delimitation of the AOC “Champagne”
Abstract
The Champagne vine-growing region has played a pioneering role in the delimitation of appellations of origin (AOC). The implementation of the Act of July, 22nd 1927 has led to drawing up lists of vine plots based on the criterion of vine cultivation antecedence.
After that, successive laws, especially the Acts of February 11th 1951 and November 16th 1984, have gradually helped to introduce technical criteria in correcting delimitation process.
The global reviewing of the Champagne appellation area was first opened to secure its boundaries and prevent it from being gradually undermined. Today, we have come very close to full exploitation of land currently classified in AOC (In 2011, the planted surface reaches 34 157 ha, i.e. about 97% of the delimited surface estimated at 35280 ha), which raises the question of spatial extension of the vineyard. However, this extension should not be at the expense of quality and specificity of champagne. This is what is at stake in the global reviewing of the AOC.
Issue: Terroir 2012
Type: Article
Authors
2 professeur émérite à l’université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
Contact the author
Keywords
Appellation of Controled Origin for Champagne, delimitation process, plot-scale delimitation, core of “terroir”