Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC)
Definition - What does Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC) mean?
The Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC) is an organization of persons assigned under the direction of the French government designed to regulate Champagne production and its trade growers, merchants and cooperatives.
Established in 1941 during the WWII German occupation of Champagne, it is the organization's position to control production, promotion and distribution, but their most important role is to limit production so as to maintain market prices.
WineFrog explains Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC)
CIVC also has the job of securing the name "Champagne", which is an international trademark and a protected designation of
origin used to label only sparkling wine that originates from the Champagne region of France. Throughout the world, CIVC is also active in other countries to
maintain a national representation to enable further protection of the
Champagne trademark. In the United States, it is known as the Champagne Bureau.
During its inception in 1941, the organization was required to have strict control on trade both by the Vichy regime and Germany. Therefore, producers in Champagne saw it necessary to start a front against the Germans. It was the head of Moet & Chandon, Robert-Jean de Vogue, who started the initiative to negotiate with the Germans.
