Wine growers in the Champagne region, home to the world's most exclusive bubbly, on Thursday scrapped a century-old rule governing the distance between vines, sparking fierce resistance from traditionalists.

For the past 100 years, the maximum allowed distance between vine rows has been 1.5 metres (five feet), which experts had always believed represented the ideal balance between yield and quality.

Greater spacing, they said, would take away the need for the vines to compete for water and nutrients with neighbouring plants, a struggle that helps them produce smaller and higher-quality crop loads with just the right amount of&nbsp;acidity.

But the small space between rows, and between each vine, makes mechanisation difficult as machines for pruning, fertilising or harvesting can't easily navigate the narrow gaps.

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Wine war: France vs Russia

It comes after&nbsp;Russia adopted a legislation requiring&nbsp;French producers to attach a label to the back of their bottles sold in Russia with the description "sparkling wine."

By contrast, domestic producers of what is known in Russia as "shampanskoye" will not have to attach any such label. Shares in a leading Russian producer went up after the law came into force.

In more than 120 countries, the name "champagne" has protected status, reserving its use for sparkling wine from France's&nbsp;Champagne&nbsp;region.

Larger space allows for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

A 15-year study conducted by growers association SGV, scientists and champagne houses found that larger spaces would allow a 20-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions thanks to wine growing equipment that would perform better and more efficiently than the straddle tractors now in use.

"The aim is to accompany the necessary agro-ecological transition by adapting Champagne vines to climate change, while at the same time preserving the quality and unique quality of Champagne vines, and the economic sustainability of wine growers," said SGV's president, Maxime Toubart.

'Debate over'

SGV's board voted on Thursday to allow a space of between 2 and 2.2 metres between each plant in future, and allow them to grow up to a height of 2 metres compared with 1.2 to 1.3 metres now.

The study also found that working the soil would become easier, as would pest control.

And while there would be room for fewer vines, each plant's increased production would make up for the shortfall.

"Vines would become more resistant to drought and need fewer additives," said Vincent Legras, a winegrower who has experimented with wider spaces between vines since 2007 and is in favour of the change.&nbsp;

"For me the debate is over," he said.

But local opponents say they expect rising inequalities between wine growers, and fear for local traditions, grape quality and jobs.

"Under the cover of environmental concerns they are implementing a business project of cost cutting," said Patrick Leroy, boss of the far-left CGT-Champagne trade union. "These strategies will destroy jobs."

Up to a quarter of the sector's 10,000 jobs could be lost, he said, adding he feared a "programmed extinction" of the Champagne region's unique production methods.

But SGV's Toubart said each wine grower would be free to decide on whether to use the new leeway and that, either way, change would be slow. "It will be a long transition, over one, two or three generations," he said.

The spacing rule is one of a number of strict criteria producers must respect to remain part of the exclusive club authorised to use the Champagne label.

Apart from exclusively using grapes from the region itself, they must also apply specific methods for pressing the fruit and for fermentation.

The most prestigious of the world's sparkling wines, Champagne accounts for just nine percent of global sparkling wine consumption, but 33 percent of its value.

More than half the 244 million bottles shipped each year go to buyers outside France.

Wine growers in the Champagne region, home to the world's most exclusive bubbly, on Thursday scrapped a century-old rule governing the distance between vines, sparking fierce resistance from traditionalists.

Wine growers in the Champagne region, home to the world's most exclusive bubbly, on Thursday scrapped a century-old rule governing the distance between vines, sparking fierce resistance from traditionalists. For the past 100 years, the maximum allowed distance between vine rows has been 1.5 metres (five feet), which experts had always believed represented the ideal balance between yield and quality. Greater spacing, they said, would take away the need for the vines to compete for water and nutrients with neighbouring plants, a struggle that helps them produce smaller and higher-quality crop loads with just the right amount of acidity. But the small space between rows, and between each vine, makes mechanisation difficult as machines for pruning, fertilising or harvesting can't easily navigate the narrow gaps. Wine war: France vs Russia It comes after Russia adopted a legislation requiring French producers to attach a label to the back of their bottles sold in Russia with the description "sparkling wine." By contrast, domestic producers of what is known in Russia as "shampanskoye" will not have to attach any such label. Shares in a leading Russian producer went up after the law came into force. In more than 120 countries, the name "champagne" has protected status, reserving its use for sparkling wine from France's Champagne region. Larger space allows for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions A 15-year study conducted by growers association SGV, scientists and champagne houses found that larger spaces would allow a 20-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions thanks to wine growing equipment that would perform better and more efficiently than the straddle tractors now in use. "The aim is to accompany the necessary agro-ecological transition by adapting Champagne vines to climate change, while at the same time preserving the quality and unique quality of Champagne vines, and the economic sustainability of wine growers," said SGV's president, Maxime Toubart. 'Debate over' SGV's board voted on Thursday to allow a space of between 2 and 2.2 metres between each plant in future, and allow them to grow up to a height of 2 metres compared with 1.2 to 1.3 metres now. The study also found that working the soil would become easier, as would pest control. And while there would be room for fewer vines, each plant's increased production would make up for the shortfall. "Vines would become more resistant to drought and need fewer additives," said Vincent Legras, a winegrower who has experimented with wider spaces between vines since 2007 and is in favour of the change. "For me the debate is over," he said. But local opponents say they expect rising inequalities between wine growers, and fear for local traditions, grape quality and jobs. "Under the cover of environmental concerns they are implementing a business project of cost cutting," said Patrick Leroy, boss of the far-left CGT-Champagne trade union. "These strategies will destroy jobs." Up to a quarter of the sector's 10,000 jobs could be lost, he said, adding he feared a "programmed extinction" of the Champagne region's unique production methods. But SGV's Toubart said each wine grower would be free to decide on whether to use the new leeway and that, either way, change would be slow. "It will be a long transition, over one, two or three generations," he said. The spacing rule is one of a number of strict criteria producers must respect to remain part of the exclusive club authorised to use the Champagne label. Apart from exclusively using grapes from the region itself, they must also apply specific methods for pressing the fruit and for fermentation. The most prestigious of the world's sparkling wines, Champagne accounts for just nine percent of global sparkling wine consumption, but 33 percent of its value. More than half the 244 million bottles shipped each year go to buyers outside France.

Champagne growers spark fierce resistance after altering a century old vine-distancing rule

Russian President&nbsp;Vladimir Putin has upped the ante against&nbsp;champagne producers&nbsp;by signing a law reserving the appellation for Russian sparkling wine that has prompted a call for a bubbly blockade.

The&nbsp;adopted legislation will require French producers to attach a label to the back of their bottles sold in Russia with the description "sparkling wine."

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By contrast, domestic producers of what is known in Russia as "shampanskoye" will not have to attach any such label. Shares in a leading Russian producer went up after the law came into force.

In more than 120 countries, the name "champagne" has protected status, reserving its use for sparkling wine from France's Champagne region.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian jumped into the fray as well, telling the national parliament Tuesday that if necessary, France would take the issue to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

"We will act in the coming days with Russian authorities, on the bilateral and European level, to defend our producers' interests and above all the interests of our geographical indications," Le Drian said.

"If there are more blatant violations of the World Trade Organisation rules, then we will move ahead, as we have already considered doing with Russia.

"I hope that dialogue will allow us to resolve this problem," he concluded.

French champagne maker Michel Drappier&nbsp;worries the new Russian law on labeling imported champagne will undermine the principle he holds sacrosanct, that only champagne produced in France's Champagne region is worthy of the name.

"The word 'champagne' is magical," Drappier, 62, said at the vineyard that has been in his family for seven generations. "We have to fight so that our name is recognised, and not watered down," he said, standing above dusty wine cellars that date back to the 12th century.

Though Russia may not be the world's biggest&nbsp;champagne&nbsp;market,&nbsp;it ranks 15th in terms of the number of&nbsp;champagne&nbsp;bottles it imports,&nbsp;it's an important one because Russians tend to buy expensive bottles.&nbsp;

The committee, which groups grape growers and producers in France's&nbsp;Champagne&nbsp;region, also called on diplomats to push for a change of the "unacceptable law", and urged members to halt all shipments to Russia&nbsp;until further notice.

Launched in 1937 under Joseph Stalin, the "Sovetskoye Shampanskoye" brand aimed to make the elite bourgeois drink acceptable for the proletariat.&nbsp;

It was produced en masse and sold at affordable prices, but was recognised as being pale imitation of the French product.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the "shampanskoye" label persisted, which began to pose problems for Russia, especially after it joined the WTO in 2012.

According to the association of Russian makers of sparkling wines, total output can reach 220 million bottles per year, the bulk of which use a very different production method from the one used in France.

As suggested by the term Appellation&nbsp;of&nbsp;Controlled Origin (AOC), the right to label a product is restricted to those made in the region.&nbsp;Champagne&nbsp;makers also have to follow strict production methods.

It's a name that&nbsp;champagne&nbsp;makers have been battling to protect since 1843.&nbsp;And the fight has not just been about using the name on sparkling wine.

They've worked to block a whole range of unrelated products from trying to profit from&nbsp;champagne's reputation, from cigarettes to an Yves Saint Laurent perfume.

Most recently they won a case against German supermarket chain Aldi over a&nbsp;champagne-flavoured sorbet, because it was judged to not taste of&nbsp;champagne.

It's a battle many in France will continue fighting "without fail", Trade Minister Franck Riester said on Twitter.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has upped the ante against champagne producers by signing a law reserving the appellation for Russian sparkling wine that has prompted a call for a bubbly blockade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has upped the ante against champagne producers by signing a law reserving the appellation for Russian sparkling wine that has prompted a call for a bubbly blockade. The adopted legislation will require French producers to attach a label to the back of their bottles sold in Russia with the description "sparkling wine." By contrast, domestic producers of what is known in Russia as "shampanskoye" will not have to attach any such label. Shares in a leading Russian producer went up after the law came into force. In more than 120 countries, the name "champagne" has protected status, reserving its use for sparkling wine from France's Champagne region. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian jumped into the fray as well, telling the national parliament Tuesday that if necessary, France would take the issue to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). "We will act in the coming days with Russian authorities, on the bilateral and European level, to defend our producers' interests and above all the interests of our geographical indications," Le Drian said. "If there are more blatant violations of the World Trade Organisation rules, then we will move ahead, as we have already considered doing with Russia. "I hope that dialogue will allow us to resolve this problem," he concluded. French champagne maker Michel Drappier worries the new Russian law on labeling imported champagne will undermine the principle he holds sacrosanct, that only champagne produced in France's Champagne region is worthy of the name. "The word 'champagne' is magical," Drappier, 62, said at the vineyard that has been in his family for seven generations. "We have to fight so that our name is recognised, and not watered down," he said, standing above dusty wine cellars that date back to the 12th century. Though Russia may not be the world's biggest champagne market, it ranks 15th in terms of the number of champagne bottles it imports, it's an important one because Russians tend to buy expensive bottles. The committee, which groups grape growers and producers in France's Champagne region, also called on diplomats to push for a change of the "unacceptable law", and urged members to halt all shipments to Russia until further notice. Launched in 1937 under Joseph Stalin, the "Sovetskoye Shampanskoye" brand aimed to make the elite bourgeois drink acceptable for the proletariat. It was produced en masse and sold at affordable prices, but was recognised as being pale imitation of the French product. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the "shampanskoye" label persisted, which began to pose problems for Russia, especially after it joined the WTO in 2012. According to the association of Russian makers of sparkling wines, total output can reach 220 million bottles per year, the bulk of which use a very different production method from the one used in France. As suggested by the term Appellation of Controlled Origin (AOC), the right to label a product is restricted to those made in the region. Champagne makers also have to follow strict production methods. It's a name that champagne makers have been battling to protect since 1843. And the fight has not just been about using the name on sparkling wine. They've worked to block a whole range of unrelated products from trying to profit from champagne's reputation, from cigarettes to an Yves Saint Laurent perfume. Most recently they won a case against German supermarket chain Aldi over a champagne-flavoured sorbet, because it was judged to not taste of champagne. It's a battle many in France will continue fighting "without fail", Trade Minister Franck Riester said on Twitter. (With inputs from agencies)

'Champagne is French': Ministers denounce Russia 'sparkling wine' law

France's champagne industry group blasted a new Russian law that forces foreign producers to add a 'sparkling wine' reference to their bottles of champagne and called for the halting of exports of the bubbly drink to Russia.

World Business Watch: French champagne industry group fumes over new Russian law

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