Capture the True Essence of the State in a Glass of Wine
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For more information please visit www.WineOrigins.com and follow us on: www.facebook.com/ProtectWineOrigins @WineOrigins TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION 2. WHO WE ARE Location is the key ingredient in wine. In fact, each bottle showcases 3. WHY LOCATION MATTERS authentic characteristics of the land, air, water and weather from which it 4. THE DECLARATION originated, and the distinctiveness of local grape growers and winemakers. 5. SIGNATORY REGIONS • Bordeaux Unfortunately, there are some countries that do not adequately protect • Bourgogne/Chablis a wine’s true place of origin on wine labels allowing for consumers to be • Champagne misled. When a wine’s true place of origin is misused, the credibility of the • Chianti Classico industry as a whole is diminished and consumers can be confused. As • Jerez-Xérès-Sherry such, some of the world’s leading wine regions came together to sign the • Long Island Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin. By becoming signatories, • Napa Valley members have committed to working together to raise consumer awareness • Oregon and advocate to ensure wine place names are protected worldwide. • Paso Robles • Porto You can help us protect a wine’s true place of origin by knowing where your • Rioja wine is grown and produced. If you are unsure, we encourage you to ask • Santa Barbara County and demand that a wine’s true origin be clearly identified on its label. • Sonoma County Truth-in-labeling is important so you can make informed decisions when • Tokaj selling, buying or enjoying wines. • Victoria • Walla Walla Valley • Washington State We thank you for helping us protect the sanctity of wine growing regions • Western Australia worldwide and invite you to learn more at www.wineorigins.com. • Willamette Valley 1 WHO WE ARE WHY LOCATION MATTERS The Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin is a set of principles There are more than 1 million wine producers in the world, and according to aimed at educating consumers about the importance of location to winemaking. Impact Databank they produce more than 31 billion cases of wine each year. The Declaration was first signed in Napa Valley, Calif., on July 26, 2005. Today, As consumers navigate this ever-expanding world, the information on the wine our members include a number of wine regions from around the world. label is vital. The label tells consumers what they are buying and what they are drinking. That’s why it is important the label accurately reflects and identifies By becoming signatories of the Declaration, members agree that geographic the wine’s true location of origin. Yet, in many countries including the United names are fundamental tools for consumers to identify the special wines States, Russia and Vietnam, some geographic names are allowed to be used associated with specific winegrowing regions. And as such, they commit to on wine bottles that do not originate from those places, making it difficult for work together to bring the necessary awareness and advocacy to bear to consumers to select an authentic wine from a particular region. ensure these names are protected and respected. From great winegrowing regions to consumer rights groups to everyday wine consumers, more and Research finds that a growing number of consumers, however, want wine more people are demanding truth-in-labeling. labels to accurately reflect the contents of the bottle. Results from a 2011 poll of U.S. consumers conducted by Public Opinion Strategies make it clear: location matters. Knowing a wine’s Growing number of Allowing the location is becoming consumers want mislabeling of wine an increasingly truth-in-labeling. bottles leads to important factor consumer confusion. when buying a bottle. Seventy-nine percent Ninety-eight percent Despite broad interest of consumers consider of consumers support in wine location, when the region where a establishing worldwide presented with two wine comes from an standards for all wine- labels side-by-side – one important factor when makers that would require accurately labeled and buying a bottle of wine; that they accurately state another mislabeled –most 75 percent report they the location where wine consumers were unable would be less likely to buy grapes are grown on wine to determine the correct a wine if they learned that labels while 96 percent origin of the wine. This it claimed to be from a say that consumers underscores the challenges place like Champagne, deserve to know that winemakers face with Napa Valley or Oregon, the location where wine current labeling laws but in actuality was not. grapes are grown is around the world. When Additionally, 84 percent accurately stated on a place name is misused, think that the region a wine labels. a part of the identity of wine comes from is that distinctive wine extremely important in region is lost and determining its quality. consumers can be misled. 2 3 THE DECLARATION The Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place Names & Origin was first signed in Napa Valley, California, on July 26, 2005. It is a set of principles aimed at educating consumers and policymakers about the importance of location to winemaking. THE DECLARATION STATES: WHEREAS, it is generally acknowledged that there are a handful of truly extraordinary places on earth from which great wine is consistently produced. WHEREAS, the names of these places are printed on labels side-by-side with the names of the producers to identify the origin of the wine. WHEREAS, wine, more than any other beverage, is valued based on its association to its place of origin – and with good reason. WHEREAS, even before modern technology allowed us to tie specific definitions to the soils, terrain, and climates of noted wine regions, winemakers were drawn to these special places. WHEREAS, the names of these places are familiar, and synonymous with quality. WHEREAS, we respectfully submit that the place where wine is grown plays a very important role in a consumer’s selection process. WHEREAS, we are furthermore united in our belief that the geographic place names of wine regions are the sole birthright of the grapes that are grown there, and when these names appear on wines that do not contain fruit from that region, they lose their integrity and their relevance, becoming merely words. THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, as some of the world’s leading wine regions, join together in supporting efforts to maintain and protect the integrity of these place names, which are fundamental tools for consumer identification of great winegrowing regions and the wines they produce. 4 5 BORDEAUX BOURGOGNE/CHABLIS Located near the Atlantic Ocean and exactly on the 45th parallel, the French The Bourgogne winegrowing region, a place with a unique heritage, enjoys wine region of Bordeaux is centered on the city of Bordeaux, covering less a climate that is particularly well-suited to vine cultivation. The convergence than 300,000 acres. Only grapes planted within the region’s 60 appellations of Mediterranean, continental and oceanic influences plays a major role can be labeled as Bordeaux wines. The region is defined by gravel or clay soil, oceanic in terms of the aromatic richness and global reputation of its wines. The climate, and the Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. It has rare frosts in winter, wet vineyards of the Bourgogne region are home to some celebrated varietals. With more than springs, warm summers, and very sunny autumn weather for optimum ripening. Consisting of 80% planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Bourgogne winegrowing region is also a siliceous alluvial deposits and gravelly-sandy soil on a limestone platform, Bordeaux’s showcase for Gamay and Aligoté. Historical home for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Bourgogne geologically diverse terroirs are particularly well-suited to viticulture and produce wines with provides a terroir that is perfectly suited to bring out their very best. In the Bourgogne region, markedly different characters. the wines are mainly single varietal. This “purity of expression” means that each plot gives each vintage its own personality and unique characteristics. Situated in the northernmost area of the region is the Chablis wine growing region. The grapevines around the town of Chablis are almost all Chardonnay, making a dry white wine renowned for the purity of its aroma and Region Primary grape varietals taste. The cool climate of this region produces wines with more acidity and flavors less fruity 113,400 hectares Merlot than Chardonnay wines grown in warmer climates of the Bourgogne region. growing area (2013) Cabernet Sauvignon 60 appellations Cabernet Franc (2013) Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc Region Impact Production Muscadelle 28,748 hectares 45,200 jobs created 700 million growing area (2013) 3% of wine sales worldwide bottles produced (2013) 100 appellations in terms of value (2008-2012) €4.2+ billion 33 Grand Cru Appellations 18% of exports in total sales (2013) 44 Villages and Premiers of still French VQPRD wines 42% of wines exported (2013), Cru Appellations 7% of total generating €2.1 billion (2013) 23 Regional Appellations employment in Bourgogne People Production 3.5% of GDP 7,200 winegrowers 193 million in the Bourgogne 300 trading houses bottles sold region 95 brokers €1.5 billion 39 cooperative cellars total worldwide sales Primary 48% to 52% grape varietals Impact of all bottles are exported Chardonnay 55,000 jobs Pinot Noir direct and indirect (2013) People 33 million visitors 3,949 winegrowing estates (2012) 300 wine merchants 17% of total value 17 cooperative wineries to the region UNIQUE FACT UNIQUE FACT The Bordeaux vineyards are the result of two thousand years of history encompassing alternating periods of The region’s climats are a unique phenomenon whose Universal Exceptional Value has inscribed it to the great prosperity and recession that have shaped the land and made the wines what they are today.