What's the difference between "Champagne" and other "sparkling white wines"?

150 kilometers east of Paris, there is a region that is protected by France and is known worldwide - the Champagne province. (Once a "province", now just a region).

France and the European Union have agreed that the "sparkling wine" produced on this land is called "Champagne" and that no similar product produced anywhere else can be used "Champagne" as its name. After all, the market price of Champagne is much higher than that of similar wine products.

What is so special about this place? First of all, the location, the soil, the climate, and, of course, the "insistence on hand-picking" and the rigorous fermentation techniques that have evolved over two centuries.

However, it should be noted that the rest of the world, outside the European Union, does not really follow the French regulations. They produce their own sparkling white wines, following the same process, under the name "Champagne", and they make a considerable commercial income from it. This has led to a long legal battle with the Champagne brand.

So what exactly is "Champagne"? It is a craft, a production standard, a historical heritage; or it can also be said to be a trademark, a commercial brand with premium power.