Politicians fight to keep 'Apfelwein' name
GERMANY: Politicians in the west of the country are up in arms that the name of their traditional 'apple wine'will fall victim to new European Union regulations.
'Apfelwein', a cider-like brew, is popular in Hesse state, a region that includes Germany's financial centre, Frankfurt.
The regional brewers' association said that a draft EU plan calls for the word wine only to be used for grape-derived drinks in future.
State governor Roland Koch urged Brussels to show mercy. He said he is "outraged" by the proposals and has urged EU Agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel to change the plan.
"We will not allow our traditional name to be sacrificed to regulatory madness in Brussels," Koch said in a statement. "We will fight with all the means at our disposal for our apple wine."
Koch's centre-left rival for the governor's job, Andrea Ypsilanti, echoed his comments. "Apple wine must remain apple wine," she said.
Associated Press
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