Champagne is not just a style of sparkling wine. It is first the name of a specific region in northeastern France. In wine law, only sparkling wine produced in that region, and made under its strict rules, can be labeled Champagne.
That is why the name matters. Many sparkling wines look similar in the glass, but they are not all Champagne. The place of origin is a key part of the definition.
- Champagne: sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France
- Prosecco: sparkling wine from Italy, made under different rules
- Cava: sparkling wine from Spain, also its own category
This is similar to other protected food and drink names. A product may resemble another one, but the geographic name is legally tied to where it comes from and how it is made. So when people say Champagne, they are naming a place first, then a famous sparkling wine from that place.