Schools get call to save French wine makers (SCHADENFREUDE UPDATE)

The Sunday Times ^ | July 25, 2004 | Matthew Campbell

[Bonaparte]

Outstanding article, Ivan!

I like people who bring me good news.

First, the french trumpet their swill as part of their "history, identity and civilization." Then, they admit that their own consumption of their own wine has decreased. Finally, they confess that to rescue their failing product, they must make it more like "new world" wine by adding wood shavings (???). To top it all off, they propose to increase domestic consumption while decreasing domestic consumption.

I don't think we need to worry about french ambitions for world conquest.

[Happygal]

I watched a programme here in Ireland this week, made in a French wine vineyard.
In that, they too used egg whites to remove tannins etc.

[maxwellp]

Please help me here - "The Belles of Saint Trinians" - it rings a bell because I seem to remember a marvelous British actor. Can you refresh my memory?

[ShadowDancer]

I prefer Italian and Californian. I've tried Australian and Brazilian and I don't care for it at all. Especially the Australian. It's God awful.

[Bonaparte]

"Beer is food."

No doubt about it. Wine has carbos, proteins and water. All three are nutrients. Ask any dietician. It also has alcohol, which provides additional calories (11 kcal/gm).

The french are just realizing that these things are food?

Like I said, we don't have to worry about french ambitions of world conquest.

[DoughtyOne]

The sad decline of France continues. Did these folks just wake up one day and take a stupid idiot pill?

[maxwellp]

Since the start of the Iraq war and France's complicity with Saddam, we looked to other wines. New York State makes fine wines and we discovered them! Thank you France for helping us find better and cheaper wines than you offer. I understand your vintners are having some problems, e.g., losing money. Goodbye forever French wines.

[texasflower]

That is completely disgusting.

[Bob J]

"...that also recommended the reclassification of wine as food to get round strict laws on the advertising of alcohol."

Why don't they just allow them to claim french wine increases breast size and eliminates baldness.

[GVnana]

a programme to educate the young about wine and teach them to recognise a good vintage, while also warning them about the dangers of over-consumption

Yeah right.

Can't sell the stuff. Hmmm. Give it to the kids!!!

[Bob J]

Fining is used to remove suspended particulates. In other words, clarify the wine.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Not to be too technical here, but blood is not used for color, it is used as a fining agent, to soften tannins in red wines (to reduce astringency). In the U.S., we often use egg whites or gelatin for the same purpose.

Doesn't exactly matter why they use it but it does mean french wines are not Kosher. Another good reason not to drink them.

[VOA]

I don't think the French know their goose has already been cooked.
In addition to the the fine wines from around the USA and other parts of the globe,
I can tell them why it's all over for them in three words.

"Two Buck Chuck"

http://www.decanter.com/news/56249.html

[ladylib]

It starred Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Beryl Reid, Irene Handl.

[texasbluebell]

I'd rather drink this wine than a bottle of french.

[ralph rotten]

This reminds me of an article in Paris paper in 1976? which
stated that Corsica imported large quantity of H2so4 acids (in fact the most in Europe)---and no battery production)--Just a few drops per l. of wine

[NonValueAdded]

“What this amounts to,” said Rigaud, “is that we can’t export all the wine we want to, so French people will have to drink it.”

Hmmm, I wonder if it goes well with cake?

Marie A.

[maxwellp]

Alastair Sim! He was the actor I was trying to remember. Thank you so much. Oh for the days of the great English comedians.

[RedCobra]

I've always preferred Italian wines and then Hungarian. French wine can languish on the shelves and turn into vinegar as far as I'm concerned.