Champagne name row has Swiss fizzing

Wine growers from the Swiss village of Champagne have launched a bid at the European Court of Justice to continue to be allowed to name their wine after the place it is made.

The Champagne Winegrowers' Action Group, which represents 39 of the 42 vineyard owners in the village, has appealed against a European Union ban imposed after demands from France.

The French believe any other product named Champagne could damage their image.

But the Swiss reckon their village name is just as old as that of the famous French region, and are demanding the right to brand their still red and white wines "Champagne Appellation Contrôlée".

An action group spokesman said: "There are 660 inhabitants in our village who will lose a combined sum of around half a million pounds if they are not allowed to use the name.

The case goes before the Luxembourg-based court in September.