(TDB) - After almost 20 years in the role, Bruno Paillard is to quit his post as president of the Commission for the Protection of Champagne over Champagne Palmer’s distribution deal with US wine company Constellation Brands.

In a lengthy and at times ferociously worded interview with local newspaper l’Union, Paillard (pictured) explains his resignation as being a matter of principal and condemned Palmer’s “betrayal” and accused the longstanding co-operative of stabbing the region “in the back”

In May of this year, Champagne Palmer signed a distribution deal in the US with TRU Estates and Vineyards, the fine wine division of Constellation Brands – which also counts Schrader Cellars and Robert Mondavi Winery in its portfolio.

The deal came into effect this month (July) and included US market import exclusivity for TRU.

However, Constellation also produces sparkling wine in the US, namely in California, which it markets there as ‘champagne’.