Posted on 12/08/2004 2:24:09 PM PST by kupia_kummi
French wine exports are in their sixth successive year of decline. Thousands of winemakers have staged protests in the streets of France to demand government help over falling exports and a slump in domestic sales.
Demonstrators in Avignon, Bordeaux, Macon, Angers, Nantes and other towns rallied behind black-draped tractors.
They blame over-production, shrinking exports and a government campaign against alcohol abuse for what union leaders call a "crisis" in winemaking.
France's agriculture ministry said it would meet industry leaders next week.
The unions want the government to provide money for farmers wishing to move from vines to other crops and greater compensation for uprooting unprofitable vineyards.
They are also threatening legal action against a state advertising campaign to combat alcoholism which they say is unfairly hitting demand, although no decision has yet been taken.
A sign draped on a picking machine in Avignon read, "They want the winemakers' death", Reuters news agency said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I favor the Alejandro Fernandez Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera. One of the best wines I've had in a long time.
I'd drink Boone's Farm Wine over any over priced French Swill.
I guess the frog strategery of marketing their wine to Islamic radicals isn't going so well....
I have many Jewish friends who have been boycotting French wines for months due to the government's tolerance of escalating anti-semitism. I can't remember the last time I had any French wine. Haven't missed it, either.
Here is a great source for California wines:
"The government understands these difficulties," he said.
Your government caused these difficulties.
Bill O'Reiley
But do they know WHY their exports are shrinking?
Because they're such @ssholes, and we're tired of supporting them?
Hell, I'm a beer drinker, and a bourbon every once and a while. They can keep their snooty scotch, I'll take a American bourbon every time. A good vodka martini will light my fire as well.
Having been in Europe I can tell you that I found the french wine less to my taste than German, Spanish, and Italian wines. They really kind of sucked. There is an interesting thing about Cognac. After WWII the Germans started making Cognac and they do it better than the french. That really pissed off the frogs. If you want good American Cognac Wisconsin is the place to go.
I ain't drinking any wine made by people who smell like the French surrender monkeys. For similar reasons, I don't drink out of urinals.
Tell Chirac too just keep on importing Muslims, WHO DON"T DRINK WINE, and keep on PISSING OFF AMERICANS who won't drink it because of YOUR SNOTTY French ATTITUDE!. Scre you, Marcell, drink it yourself. But don't expect tarriff's and subsidies to work. What goes around comes around, remember? Zee French, so stupeed!
Can you recommend a good, sweet Australian white or white zin wine?
Bwahaahahahahahaa! Down with the Frainsh.
The best Vinegar comes from Italy too. As I'm sure you know. Ah learnt it on Rick Steves.
You have got to be kidding.
You have got to be kidding. Overtime? What's that? 39 Hours?
Tant Pis poue Leur. (Too Bad For Them)
Mogen David. Good for Passover and Skid Row Bums.
Dumba~es!
This is what happens when they undermine the war efforts of the nation to which that they export a very easily replaced product, especially one thats propped up by mystique and admiration for their culture and tradition. What morons to not have seen this coming
French wine workers are drunk and pissing themselves before lunch. Work 39 hours? Believe me. If you saw how that crap was made, you would not drink it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.