Which French region gives Champagne wine its protected name?

The French region of Champagne gives Champagne wine its protected name.

The region lies mainly in northeastern France, east of Paris, and includes the departments of Marne, Aube, Aisne, Haute-Marne and Seine-et-Marne. Its principal cities include Reims and Épernay. The region’s cool climate and chalk-rich soils are especially important to its sparkling wines.

Under European protected-designation rules, wine labeled Champagne must come from the defined Champagne appellation and meet its production requirements. Sparkling wines made elsewhere cannot legally use the name Champagne in the European Union, although similar wines may be called sparkling wine or use another regional name.

A common mix-up is treating “Champagne” as a general word for any bubbly wine. Prosecco, Cava and English sparkling wine are different products with different origins and rules.