[sinanju]

I've been reading that a lot of this has to do with the frenchies failing to adopt new technology added to the fact that France really is not the best place in the world to grow wine grapes by a long shot.

I don't know from winemaking however, does anyone out their know the details.

[Victor]

I make wine in my own garage. I know how it's done.

Having said that, French wine is certainly excellent. The thing is, they (the French) have monopolized the mystique for too long. It's like, of course only the French know how...

French winegrapes are excellent...but so are Napa/Sonoma. And Australian, and Chilean. I recently tasted a Pinot Blanc from South Africa...excellent.

Did I mention the Reislings and Sylvaner from Germany?

I almost left out the Brunello and Barolo from Italy; the Tokay from Hungary.

Oh, and the Tempranillo from Spain...yikes. The best.

Well, you get the point. There's good wine from all over the world. Even from your own garage, if you're so inclined.

[conservlib]

Actually, France has a fantastic soil, and weather for growing wine, and the experts to do the best wine in the world. The problem is Napa, Australia, and Chile managed to produce similar product at a fraction of the cost.

Case in point, Kendal Jackson artist series $75 Cabernet Sauvegnion is just about as good as the $175 Rothschild from Bordeaux. In other words not only the economical bottle from mass production is beating the French, no, even the high end California is beating the French.