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There is no such thing as an American Bordeaux because Bordeaux is a region in France. The European Union has pushed hard for the concept of appellations- the idea that a product should be identified by its region. Suggesting that somehow the regional character means so much to the product that if you make it somewhere else, then it ought to go by a different name. Many artisan cheeses also have these rules.
I have heard people talking about beer claiming that a true Lambic can only be brewed in Belgium, or a true Hefeweizen can only be made in Germany. What do you think? Can an American call his beer a "Hefeweizen"? Or should he properly consider it to be an "American Hefeweizen" to distinguish it from the originals?
What is your opinion?
Personally, I think that appellations are a useful and valid thing so long as the tradition is alive and thriving in the area. I'm not talking about a handful of 200 year producers of the goods, I mean, so long as it is thriving, evolving, and changing within a society that places emphasis on the goods, then the appellation is good and valid... but when it becomes steady and the processes cease to vary over time, then the product can probably be produced just about anywhere and the appellation becomes meaningless. Agree? Disagree?
I have heard people talking about beer claiming that a true Lambic can only be brewed in Belgium, or a true Hefeweizen can only be made in Germany. What do you think? Can an American call his beer a "Hefeweizen"? Or should he properly consider it to be an "American Hefeweizen" to distinguish it from the originals?
What is your opinion?
Personally, I think that appellations are a useful and valid thing so long as the tradition is alive and thriving in the area. I'm not talking about a handful of 200 year producers of the goods, I mean, so long as it is thriving, evolving, and changing within a society that places emphasis on the goods, then the appellation is good and valid... but when it becomes steady and the processes cease to vary over time, then the product can probably be produced just about anywhere and the appellation becomes meaningless. Agree? Disagree?