In recent years, many new wine laws have been introduced in the EU. Among other things, the rules for “wines without geographical origin” have changed. These used to be called vin de table in France (table wines). Today they are called Vin de France, a name that should sell better in the world. And now these wines are allowed to specify both the grape variety and the vintage on the label if they want to. The old table wines were not allowed to do so.
But there are certain restrictions concerning grape variety. Some regions want to keep their grapes as some sort of private property. It is mainly Alsace, Savoie and the Jura that have put their foot down. So this is for some reason an Eastern France thing.
That the Alsatians want to protect their Riesling and Gewurztraminer, I can understand (but not agree on) but why on earth would Savoie producers want to have exclusive rights of mondeuse and jacquère?
Aside from the fact that I do not think anyone in the world other than themselves would want to grow these grapes, wouldn’t it be an advantage if these grapes spread and became known?
Sometimes the reasoning of wine producers is a mystery.
Read more about it here: Even the simplest French wines can now mention the grape variety, except some.
