OREANDA-NEWS. July 27, 2007. Artyomovsk Winery received guests –representatives of Inter-Professional Committee for Champagne Wines (Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne - CIVC), France.

Jean-Luc Barbier, Director General Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) and Charles Gomier, Head, Department of Protection of Champagne Name (CIVC) came to Ukraine with the purpose of business aimed for continuation of negotiations, and analysis of the possibilities to provide Ukraine with technical support in the area of geographic names within the framework of joining WTO by Ukraine. Schedule included: visit to Magarach Institute, negotiations with representatives of Ministry of Agricultural Policy, Ukrvinprom, Anti-Monopoly Committee, Department for Co-operation with European Union of Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Department for Intellectual Property, Representative Office of EU in Ukraine.

Within the schedule of this trip, “embassadors” of Champagne visited Artyomovsk Winery.
the biggest Eastern European company for sparkling wine –making with traditional bottling method. There are several reasons why this company is interesting for us; first, Artyomovsk Winery is included in the top 10 companies in Europe that make sparkling wines with traditional French method. Wines from Artyomovsk are well known not only in Eastern Europe, but all over the globe, and they do comply with all international standards and quality norms. And, it is interesting for us to visit the company which still maintains traditions of sparkling wine-making established by the French people in Champagne even in XIV century. Besides, Artyomovsk Winery was the first company in Ukraine which refused to use the name “Champagne” for their products, which name, subject to International Law is property of Champagne Province only. Therefore, we would like to propose our assistance for Ukrainian makers in the area of protection of geographic names within the framework of joining WTO by Ukraine, - said head of delegation Jean-Luc Barbier during meeting with Mr. A.Yu. Garkusha Artyomovsk Winery Director General.

During the meeting, Mr. Garkusha Artyomovsk Winery Director General, noted: From 1972, our company plays on Western European Market, and certainly, this has also influenced our own philosophy, both in wine-making, and in the marketing. Due to this reason, we support observation of international norms and rules which are required under our contractual obligations. Concerning Ukrainian market, here a law exists that allows traditional Champagne method sparkling wine-makers to name their products as Champagne of Ukraine; nevertheless we have deliberately refused from this privilege because we think that this is an exclusive right of wine-makers from Champagne Province to name their products as Champagne. In view of this, our relation to this issue allows us to mean that we are ready to competitive fairy-play on global market, without violation of rights of property. You will obtain full support and co-operation from our part in respect of this matter.

During negotiations, also issues of co-operation between national and French wine-makers were discussed, possibility to inter-act for the purpose of experience transfer in the training of specialists, optimization of making, and matters to develop relations on global market.

After meeting with Director General of the Winery, visitors from French visited wine-making departments, spoke with the specialist of Artyomovsk Winery, and, of, course, made wine-tasting of Artyomovsk sparkling wines. Jean-Luc Barbier noted that, maintaining quite big production volumes Artyomovsk Winery Winery still saves a tradition of manual work; this can be preserved in Champagne only by Leading Houses; they make with such method only special vintages of prestigious cuvees.
For us, this was some kind of exam - Mrs. Nina Sovbur’ Artyomovsk Winery Chief Technologist noted For sure, it is our pleasure that French specialists noted high quality and original properties of our sparkling wines. It is not a secret that during wine-making we are aiming at the level and quality established by French makers, but, at the same time, we save own traditions, originality and integrity out our wines. Our purpose is not to imitate, but rather to create sparkling wine with own properties, distinctive features, without reduction of the quality comparing with the famous House of Champagne.