Wine gums are called "wine gums" because they are chewy candies often labeled with names of wines (such as port, sherry, champagne, burgundy, and claret) but do not actually contain any alcohol. The name likely originated either as an attempt to offer a sweet alternative to alcoholic beverages or because the candies' more subtle, complex flavors were meant to be enjoyed like a fine wine. The confection's creator, Charles Gordon Maynard, came from a strict Methodist and teetotaller household, so there was no alcohol in the sweets, but the wine-related names stuck as a marketing choice.