Why France is Whining About Wine

The Observer [UK] ^ | January 30, 2005 | Tim Atkin

[sheik yerbouty]

They could always use the wine to bathe.

[wagglebee]

In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that French wine generally is mired in the merde.

Or to say that the French in general are full of merde!

[Owl558]

No matter how hard you try, you can't dislike the French too much.

[GVnana]

the best-selling imported wines in the UK and the US, Blossom Hill (from California) and Yellow Tail (from Australia) respectively, are low on personality and high on residual sugar. But that's what punters want.

Can't believe they drink that stuff, but whatever. The author's point about appellations is good. Varietal labeling is more consumer friendly and makes it much easier to become acquainted with wines. Frech appellations take a lot of study. But I have to wonder if the reduced exports don't also have something to do with French politics.

[quantim]

I have not seen the movie but something seems wrong here. I'm told from customers this movie is about the (winewise that is) pinot noir varietal, which is in Burgundy and bears no relevance to the wines mentioned in Bordeaux. I am a certified and practicing sommelier. I would like to hear more.

[26lemoncharlie]

POOOOR BABIES!! The EU will pick up the TAB!!! For how long! The new members of the EU are Poorer than the original countries, France and Germany are on the Brink and the new members are coming in with their hands out!!

With the "WEAK" dollar, The Euro is picking up steam, but this is not good, because the Euro is CHUMP CHANGE, it's HOLLOW!! There's no solid base to support it!! CRASH!!!

Nothing like that French leadership though!!! That's why Jocko wants a WORLD TAX for the POOR!
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40559

I bet Jocko will be first in line to receive some free bucks from AMERICA!! Then AMERICA will have saved their BUTTS again, but will they ever admit it?!!

[okie01]

When it comes to the consumer market for wine, the French were the very epitome of "fat, dumb and happy".

You could see this coming years ago. California wines, for example, are quite comparable to all but the French grand crus. And American production know-how, combined with greater marketing savvy, insured that California would eventually surpass the somnolent (yet arrogant) French houses.

[cyborg]

People have discovered that French wine, like De Beers diamonds, is overhyped.

[Marano NYC]

Italy makes excellent wine and cheese. California and Long Island produce excellent wines as well.
This short sighted anti American pomposity of Chirac is hurting his countries economy. He will try to make a conciliatory gesture.
Remember his English is fluent and he uses a translator in interviews. This is the same trick Goering used during the Nuremburg trials. This provides additional time for spin.

[antaresequity]

Alaxander Valley all the way...our local wines are better and cheaper...

[GSlob]

Or to say that the French in general are full of merde!
Do you mean that, as containers for it, they are actually composed of different material(s)? I would severely doubt this particular point.

[ccmay]

I'm told from customers this movie is about the (winewise that is) pinot noir varietal, which is in Burgundy and bears no relevance to the wines mentioned in Bordeaux

Yes. One of the most eloquent moments in the movie comes when Miles and the wine-savvy waitress he is courting discuss the characteristics of the pinot noir grape as a metaphor for life.

They discuss the difficulty of growing the grape, the inconsistency of its rewards, its dependence on terroir, the ethereal joy of finding that one superlative bottle of Burgundy among twenty or fifty others of no consequence, with lots of tight shots of meaningful glances into each other's eyes.

Miles also makes clear his contempt for forgettable Merlot, oak-splintered and over-malolactated Chardonnay, flabby Cabernet Franc, and highly extracted New World style Cabernet Sauvignon. They mock the big tourist-infested winery tasting rooms, in a hilarious scene that I am pretty sure was shot at the Fess Parker winery in Los Olivos.

If you are a sommelier, you will want very much to see the movie. It is by far the most wine-centered movie ever made. And it's a darn good flick too, although you definitely don't want to take your mom or your kids along with you. It richly deserves its R rating.

-ccm

[wagglebee]

Huh?

[ONETWOONE]

You can take this to the bank.....Won't drink French wines. I instead will buy the fine Australian wines or California wines.

[RayChuang88]

Here's the big problem for the French: wine lovers around the world are discovering wines NOT bottled in France. I've been checking a number of issues of Wine Specatator magazine and they have been talking for the last 7-8 years about excellent wines coming from Portugal and Italy in Europe, Australia and the USA which as just as good as the French wines but at much lower prices.

Small wonder why so much French wine is ending up being converted for other uses lately.

[Bob J]

France could try making better wine at a more competitive price. The top labels will always find a buyer if for nothing more than the mystique that surrounds them. Too many french wines in the lower 80% are thin, overpriced or unmemorable.

[opinionator]

The best wines come in a box!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

When they fill their country with the non-wine-drinking Muslims and they offend a ton of people on the other side of the pond with their Bush-bashing politics, what do they expect?

[self_evident]

No matter how hard you try, you can't dislike the French too much.

Heh. I had to read that twice, but after the second time I realized that I couldn't agree to little.