Speyside must take inspiration from Champagne

Scotland’s Speyside region must take inspiration from the recent success of Champagne, France, to give Scotch whisky World Heritage status and secure its global reputation.

The Speyside region of Scotland is home to several Scotch whisky brands, including The Glenlivet, Aberlour. Benromach and The Macallan

The Champagne region of France has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), a title bestowed upon places that are of “outstanding universal value to humanity”.

As a result, MPs are calling for Speyside to become the seventh location to be granted World Heritage status in order to grow tourism and cement Scotch whisky’s heritage around the world.

“The world heritage status for Champagne is highly deserved,” said Moray MP Angus Robertson, as reported by The Press and Journal. “It should give us inspiration in Speyside to ensure that the heartland Scotch malt whisky region is equally recognised and properly promoted at home and abroad.

“This shows the way that world class food and drink regions can succeed.”

More than 1,000 world heritage sites currently exist in 161 different countries, with six in Scotland including The Forth Bridge, St Kilda, New Lanark, the Antoine Wall and Edinburgh’s Old and New towns.

“This is great news for the Champagne region, but could also open up a golden opportunity for Speyside,” commented local MSP Richard Lochhead. “There is a general consensus that Speyside could capture greater benefit from being home to Scotch whisky and home to so many iconic symbols of what is globally famous and successful industry steeped in tradition and craft.

“It’s now time for the industry and public sector to investigate the Champagne region’s success and see what we can learn for the benefit of Speyside and Scotch whisky.”