A Question of Origin: What's in Champagne that Ain't in Basmati?

Abstract

Sipping a hot cup of the finest Darjeeling tea or enjoying an exotic champagne may not have been possible without the aid of geographical indications. For years now, products originating from one particular region or another have gained reputations for their unique quality and characteristics. Their special attributes may be due to the specific geographical conditions of their place of origin, such as the soil and temperature, and/or human factors, like the method of preparation. Such reputations, gained over a number of years, have in the modern era translated into geographical indications over which many battles have been fought.