What’s in a Name? When It Comes to Wine, a Lot

One of the most interesting place name arguments involves Champagne, which can only come from that district in France. Massimo Santi/Shutterstock

When you buy a French Chablis, it will be made only from Chardonnay grapes grown in a small district in France, because that’s required under French law.

Likewise, when you buy a Sancerre, it can only be a sauvignon blanc from the eastern Loire Valley. A Beaujolais can only be made from the Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc grape grown in a district of Burgundy.