Bordeaux wine exports sink in 2004 (USA sales plummet, boycott is working!!!)

Expatica ^ | January 7, 2005 | AFP

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

BORDEAUX, France, Jan 6 (AFP) - Bordeaux wine producers announced more depressing export figures Thursday, with sales to the United States down by more than a third in a year.

Overall exports from the historic wine region of southwest France were down 10 percent in volume and 24 percent in value for the first three quarters of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003, according to the Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wine (CIVB).

Exports to the United States were down by a massive 35 percent in volume and 59 percent in value, and sales to Britain down by 21 percent in volume and 33 percent in value, it reported.

In all the region sold 1.27 million hectolitres in the year to October, for EUR 786 million (USD 1,037 million).

The only good news was an increase in sales to Russia and the Asian market.

French wine-makers are going through their worst crisis in decades thanks to competition from new producer countries and falling domestic consumption.

[paudio]

Just watched "Sideways" the other day. Didn't realize that "wine culture" is so strong in some parts of CA.

[Khurkris]

I have been getting some Chilean Cabs that are most excellent. They have reached Cali quality and on their way to surpassing it. And they are very reasonably priced. Some nice merlots and a very tasty syrah also.

[tjg]

From Lafitte to yellow tail, that's quite a move.

[Luigi Vasellini]

My wife is helping to drive a french cosmetic company (Yves Roches) into the ground. She buys a 99 cent lipstick and they send her about 20 bucks worth of freebies. Just the shipping costs them a couple of bucks. Shes been milking em for a couple of years. LOL!!!

[Khurkris]

Excellent post. When is your next garage tasting?...;-)

[mcg1969]

I wondered why that last bottle you sent me tasted a bit like antifreeze :)

[Victor]

LOL, I have a bottling machine, but you never know what was in it last...

[tjg]

What bottlings of Chilean cabs do you recommend?

[Cobra64]

You are buying more French goods than you think. They own several hotel/motel chains here as well as Michelan owning BF Goodrich tires. There is a long list of French owned companies. Ever heard of Bic? The list goes well beyond what most of us think.

There is a thread around here on FR which details the list of French owned, or subsidized companies, operating here in the United States.

[eleni121]

Me neither. I make a point to tell dealers of french commodities the reasons why.

Italian wines and wines from other more friendly nations are better anyway

[Cobra64]

There are quite a few high quality California wines too. W swore off Califonia wine years ago. Too many libs and homosexuals for our licking (sic). We are strictly into Australian wines these days.

[Cobra64]

I've found some excellent Aussie wines as well. One of my favs is [ yellow tail ] Shiraz. Wonderful table wine, especially for the price.

We buy Yellow Tail and Black Swan by the case loads.

[LIConFem]

"From Lafitte [sic] to yellow tail, that's quite a move."

True, but to be perfectly honest, I began to question the sanity of paying upward of $250.00 for a bottle of wine (more for the '86 and '82 -- my favs). And I've found that wines like [ yellow tail ] Shiraz and Sabatucci Primitivo di Manduria are wonderful reds to serve with dinner, or just to sip while reading.

[jackbill]

The new wine will be marketed as Pino More.

Where oh where can I find Pino More. Help!!!

[Victor]

"... Sabatucci Primitivo di Manduria are wonderful reds to serve with dinner, or just to sip while reading...."

Primitivo is closely related to Zinfandel; many wine scientists believe it's the same grape.

A good California Red Zinfandel is a blessing...

[NonValueAdded]

Not that this news doesn't please me greatly, but aren't the figures somewhat skewed by the outstanding year of 2000 for Bordeaux? It could just be that the great demand for the 2000 vintage jacked up the price and filled the pipeline. With the follow-on years not getting the same high rating scores, demand was sure to fall. Why invest more when you have your cellar stocked for speculation? And then, with conditions ripe for a decline, Chirac happened and the rest is zee history, non?

[Carling]

We love the Australian and Chilian wines we've discovered since then

May I suggest some wines from Oregon and Washington? We aren't all blue here.

[Carling]

Purchase a Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.

I'll suggest Henry Estate, but there are many others to consider.

[Victor]

I agree. Pinot Noir from Oregon and Washington are the best from the USA; far better than Pinot Noir from California.

[LIConFem]

"A good California Red Zinfandel is a blessing..."

The Rodney Strong (Knotty Vines) Zinfandel is quite good, as is their Chard. In fact, aside from [ yellow tail ] Chard (which is drinkable, but not great) it's the only white I'll drink.