French Hope to Cork Vintage Canadian ‘Champagne’ Dispute
TORONTO — Sixteen of France’s top houses of Champagne are suing seven Ontario wine makers for using the word “champagne” on their Canadian sparkling wines.
On Tuesday, the French champagne makers, including Moet et Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Mumm’s, will seek an injunction in Ontario Supreme Court forcing Andres Wines Ltd., T. G. Bright Co. and others to remove the term “champagne” from their sparkling wines.
The French are also seeking damages of no less than $200,000. The Champagne region of France is east of Paris.
In documents filed in the court, the French say that Ontario wine makers are breaking a 1933 trade pact that prohibits using registered names of French wine regions on Canadian products.
Like the wine, the suit has had a lengthy fermentation period: It was actually launched in 1975.
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