What Boycott? Americans Splash Out on French Wine

Yahoo ^ | 10/31/03 | Reuters

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - They might hate French diplomacy, but Americans can't help but splash out on France's fine wines.

Despite threatening to boycott French products when Paris opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites), Americans overtook Germans as the biggest spenders on France's Bordeaux wines in the 2002-03 sales year.

The CIVB, a Bordeaux wine council, reported on Thursday a 77 percent rise in the value of the region's produce sold to the U.S. market in 2002-03.

The increase was mainly due to demand for the 2000 vintage, which is popular because of the sentimental value attached to the turn of the millennium.

The volume of Bordeaux wines sold to the United States also rose, climbing 20 percent in the year to July 31, 2003 -- a period that included the build-up and bitter aftermath of Washington's diplomatic tangle with Paris over Iraq.

[sirshackleton]

I'm semi-ashamed to say it, but my favorite reds come from the Rhone Valley (although I've taken a liking to Australian Shiraz recently).

[Xenalyte]

How do you like your red - full and dry, or a little sweeter?

[dts32041]

Yeah right and the citreon duck was a great long distant tour vehicle?

Considering it was off about sixty percent and only 20%, tells me we still aren't buying french booze.

[dead]

My favorite gold comes from Downingtown, Pennsylvania – Victory Hop Devil India Pale Ale.

[JoJo Gunn]

You got a problem with Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill?

Ooh La La....

[LibWhacker]

The increase was mainly due to demand for the 2000 vintage, which is popular because of the sentimental value attached to the turn of the millennium.

Ummm . . . Connoisseurs of fine French Bordeaux have gone on a spending spree buying up the 2000 vintage because of a stupid number stamped on the label? Somebody's misinterpreting the data.

[sinkspur]

The CIVB, a Bordeaux wine council, reported on Thursday a 77 percent rise in the value of the region's produce sold to the U.S. market in 2002-03.

I don't believe this for a minute, especially since it's being reported by a French wine council.

A "rise in value" could mean that some snobs are buying high-end Rothschilds.

But, the fact is, American consumers are STILL not buying French wine in any volume, and Dallas' largest wine retailer said his sales are down 75% from 2002.

[Digger]

the fact is, American consumers are STILL not buying French wine in any volume, and Dallas' largest wine retailer said his sales are down 75% from 2002

I sure hope this is correct.

[talleyman]

Haven't bought a drop from France since this started, never will again - somebody's cooking the books over there.

[mallardx]

Same here, tire salemen tried to get me into Michelins, I laughed at him. French wine? Chah, as if...

[sirshackleton]

Very full and dry, with the emphasis on full (I can handle a little bit of sweetness here and there, but gravitate towards the dry stuff). My favorites come out of Chateauneauf du Pape.

[Chi-townChief]

Same thing with me - I replaced my Goodrich tires with Kellys.

[Unam Sanctam]

Too bad Avignon and the Comtat don't still belong to Pope, or we could quaff Chateauneuf du Pape without breaking the boycott!

[sirshackleton]

LOL

CdP is my guilty pleasure. I usually try to pick up a bottle of something once every couple of months.

[mewzilla]

Fooey to Frog wines. Click here for a better idea.

[Consort]

[Labyrinthos]

I'm semi-ashamed to say it, but my favorite reds come from the Rhone Valley (although I've taken a liking to Australian Shiraz recently).

You ought to be very ashamed. Our soldiers are dying every day in a war that is necessary, but perhaps could have been avoided, if not for Fench appeasement, and you can't even sacrafice your desire for French wine. At least its red, like the blood of our fallen heros.

[concentric circles]

French Wines Still Facing Hard Times in U.S. Market

"... imports of French table wine were down more than 20 percent for each of the months of May, June and July..."
"For the 52 weeks ending on Aug. 10, sales were down 15.6 percent in volume and 16.4 percent in value compared with the 52 weeks ending in August 2002."

The buzz over the 2000 Bordeaux may have kept sales steady at the upper end of the market but the lower end is where the revenue stream is. Believe me, the french are feeling the pain.

There are some delicious alternatives. California winemakers are producing some very good Rhones. For starters, check these notes from the 2003 Rhone Ranger Tasting.

Also, see Wine Spectator's California Rhône Tasting Report including; James Laube's Top-Scoring California Rhône-Style Wines; Smart Buys in California Rhône-Style Wines; and Best-Value California Rhône-Style Wines.

[concentric circles]

2003 Rhone Ranger Tasting