Editing Semi-generic

{{Short description|Legal term for a type of wine}}
[[File:New York sparkling wine.jpg|right|thumb|Sparkling wine with the semi-generic "Brut American champagne" on the label]]
'''''Semi-generic''''' is a legal term used in by the [[United States]] [[Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau]] to refer to a specific type of [[wine]] designation. The majority of these were originally based on the names of well-known [[Europe]]an wine-producing regions. Consumers didn't recognize grape varieties at that time and New World producers used the familiar names to suggest the style of wine they were offering for sale. U.S. regulations require that semi-generic names (for example, California champagne) may be used on a wine label only if there appears next to such name the appellation of "the actual place of origin" in order to prevent any possible [[consumer confusion]].

The practice primarily ceased in 2006 with the Wine Trade Agreement, though existing brands can continue the practice, considered grandfathered in.

==Recent problems==
Over the past thirty years, with the popularity of [[varietal]] labeling, semi-generic names have largely fallen out of use. They are typically only used on inexpensive wines sold in [[jug wine|jug]]s or [[Box wine|carton]]s and most of those now use the more popular varietal labeling.

The use of these names is a subject of some disagreement. Through [[international trade|trade agreements]], the [[European Union]] has protected most of these names in its major export markets. In 1993, Australia agreed not to use European place names and France and Italy agreed to stop using the term [[Tokaji|Tokay]], which is now reserved for Hungarian wines. The use of semi-generic names is beginning to become a problem for US domestic and foreign policy because as many [[American Viticultural Area]]s (AVAs) are becoming more popular around the world, they are seeking greater protection for their names inside and outside the U.S. In 2006, the U.S. agreed with the EU in the Wine Trade Agreement to refrain from adding any additional labels to class of semi-generic wines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ttb.gov/images/industry_circulars/archives/2006/06-01.html|title = TTB - Industry Circular Number: 2006-1}}</ref>

Some U.S. states have laws which additionally restrict or prohibit the use of semi-generic names wines produced within their borders.

==Definition==
In the U.S., semi-generics are defined by law in 27 [[Code of Federal Regulations|CFR]] 4.24. There are two types.
The first type is names that can legally refer to any grape wine whatsoever. In practice, most have become associated with a given style, which is noted.
* Burgundy – Generic red wine, for example [[E & J Gallo Winery|Gallo]]'s Hearty Burgundy. Named after [[France|French]] [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]].
* Chablis – Generic white wine, named after [[Chablis (wine)|Chablis]].
* Chianti – Generic red, named after [[Italy]]'s [[Chianti]].
* Claret – Also generic red wine, named after [[Claret]], the British term for [[France|French]] red [[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux]].
* Malaga – A [[sherry]], named after [[Malaga (wine)|Málaga]] in [[Spain]].
* Moselle – Generic sweet white, based on a [[German wine|German]] style produced in the [[Moselle River]] valley.
* Rhine Wine (syn. [[hock (wine)|Hock]]) – Generic sweet white, after Germany's [[Rhine River]]. Hock is named after [[Hochheim am Main|Hochheim]].
* Sauterne – White or pink, dry or sweet, named after [[Sauternes (wine)|Sauternes]] but deliberately misspelled.
* Haut Sauterne – Same as above.
* Tokay – Generic white, named after [[Hungary]]'s [[Tokaji]].

The second type of semi-generic names have restrictions on what kind of wine they can be. The legal restriction is listed first, followed by the original term.
* [[Angelica wine|Angelica]] – [[Fortified wine]] of 18–24% alcohol, named after [[Los Angeles]].
* Champagne – Sparkling wine, named after France's [[Champagne, France|Champagne]].
* Marsala – Wine of 14–24% alcohol, named after Italy's [[Marsala]].
* Madeira – Fortified wine of 18–24% alcohol, named after Portugal's [[Madeira wine|Madeira]].
* Port – Fortified wine, named after [[Portugal]]'s [[Port wine|Porto]].
* Sherry  Fortified wine of 17–24% alcohol, named after [[Spain]]'s [[Sherry]].

==See also==
*[[Wine label]]
*[[Fighting varietals]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060721095128/http://ttb.gov/publications/ind_circulars/ic_2006-1.pdf Label Approval for Wine Labels with a Semi-Generic Name]
*Robinson, Jancis (Ed.) ''The Oxford Companion to Wine''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, second edition, 1999.
*Agreement between the United States and the European Community on Trade in Wine [https://www.ttb.gov/agreements/us_ec_wine_agreement.shtml]

[[Category:Appellations]]
[[Category:Food product brands]]