Buyers sniff at France's wines

Associated Press | April 18 2003

[knighthawk]

PARIS -France's largest wine federation on Thursday reported a noticeable drop in exports to the United States in March and said it was worried about a possible backlash over Paris' antiwar stance.

''We have no real evidence of a boycott as such, but March wasn't good, unlike January and February,'' said Louis-Fabrice Latour, a director of the Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters.

He said American retailers ``have been telling us they've been reticent about doing French wine promotions or putting French wines prominently on display.''

Anti-French sentiment swept the United States following the French government's opposition to the war in Iraq. Calls to boycott French products went out from citizens and some legislators.

''We don't know exactly why [exports fell]; it could be due to economic factors as much as any boycott of French wines, but after a good first two months, March was just not good,'' said Latour.

He said the federation did not yet have exact figures for March, but that in the first two months this year exports rose by 16 percent, to $287 million.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[So Cal Rocket]

I'm pretty much a California and French wine drinker... with the Froggies p*ssing me off so much, I've diversified and found some OUTSTANDING Australian wines.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What's worse, subsidizing France or California?

[MEG33]

Saddened,deeply saddened.

[HiTech RedNeck]

P.S. kidding!!!

[nicmarlo]

''We don't know exactly why [exports fell]; it could be due to economic factors ...

Yeah, uh huh....keep telling yourself that.....

[tdadams]

''We don't know exactly why [exports fell]; it could be due to economic factors as much as any boycott of French wines..."

Let's see how French wine is selling in 6 months or a year and see if the picture doesn't clear up for you, Frenchy.

[tdadams]

Not only are Australian wines some of the best in the world right now, but they're also one of our staunch allies in the war. It's a two-fer.

[HiTech RedNeck]

How about Spanish wines? Polish wines?

[BunnySlippers]

Lots of Freepers in California.

[Lee Heggy]

"We have no real evidence of a boycott as such"

Good to see that the spirit of 'Baghdad Bob' lives on.

[Coroner]

At Meijers here in michigan, they have a big sign and display promoting Aussie wines. What a beautiful site!!!

[Nam Vet]

Oregon has some fantastic wines now too. Must remember that all of Oregon is red country except the area from Eugene to Portland.

Nam Vet

[kevao]

France's largest wine federation...said it was worried about a possible backlash over Paris' antiwar stance.

A possible backlash?

[SamAdams76]

Remember that most of wine country is Republican country. Does somebody have that BLUE/RED map of California? Let's just say that if it wasn't for LA County and the Bay Area, California would be a solidly Republican state.

[Tribune7]

What's worse, subsidizing France or California?

That's right. Buy only Wyoming wines.

[So Cal Rocket]

I'm not sure how to show it, but here's a map of the US - showing the results by county.

http://fs.huntingdon.edu/jlewis/Outlines/BushCountyMapMandate.htm

[So Cal Rocket]

Interesting... looks like Marin County, where the best california wines come from, is a Gore county... hmmmmmm

[Cobra64]

What's worse, subsidizing France or California?

Agreed. I like Aussie wine myself; you get great quality at a reasonable price.