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French winemakers take to streets
BBC ^ | 8 December 2004

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 ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: france; frenchboycott; frenchwine; protest; wine; winemakers
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To: Caipirabob

I favor the Alejandro Fernandez Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera. One of the best wines I've had in a long time.


21 posted on 12/08/2004 2:52:28 PM PST by pro libertate
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To: kupia_kummi

I'd drink Boone's Farm Wine over any over priced French Swill.


22 posted on 12/08/2004 2:52:48 PM PST by HP8753 (France Suxs big green ones)
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To: kupia_kummi

I guess the frog strategery of marketing their wine to Islamic radicals isn't going so well....


23 posted on 12/08/2004 2:53:20 PM PST by blanknoone (The two big battles left in the War on Terror are against our State dept and our media.)
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To: kupia_kummi
Hahahahahaha. What is French for "Tough s---"?

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:

Napa Valley Winery Exchange

24 posted on 12/08/2004 2:54:31 PM PST by Dems_R_Losers (20 million oppressed women liberated by George Bush...and counting!)
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To: RC20
Agriculture Minister Dominique Bussereau acknowledged the "deep worry" among winemakers, the Associated Press news agency reported.

"The government understands these difficulties," he said.

Your government caused these difficulties.

25 posted on 12/08/2004 2:56:29 PM PST by kitchen (Over gunned? Hell, that's better than the alternative!)
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To: kupia_kummi

Bill O'Reiley


26 posted on 12/08/2004 3:01:51 PM PST by Republican Babe (God bless America.)
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To: kupia_kummi
"They blame over-production, shrinking exports..."

But do they know WHY their exports are shrinking?

Because they're such @ssholes, and we're tired of supporting them?

27 posted on 12/08/2004 3:03:14 PM PST by Redbob
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To: kupia_kummi
I'm not a wine expert, and I don't play on on TV, but I like certain wines. Rhine wine has always been my absolute favorite. Served cold, it is the best with a feast like Thanksgiving and Christmas. We found a plum wine near our cabin in Wisconsin that is superb with the ham Easter feasts. Last Easter we brought a case of this to a family Easter feast and there wasn't a drop left after dinner. Then, of course, there are the old classics, Wild Irish Rose, MD 20/20, Ripple, Boone's Farm, and the old standard Kickin' Chicken (99 cents a half a gallon).

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.

28 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:09 PM PST by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
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To: kupia_kummi

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.


29 posted on 12/08/2004 3:13:42 PM PST by stevefromcalifornia
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To: pro libertate
I'll do a search and see where I can find it. I think you'll enjoy my selection, too. It's the Cabernet Sauvignon that has the most interesting taste for an inexpensive bottle of wine.
30 posted on 12/08/2004 3:15:12 PM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: timydnuc

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!


31 posted on 12/08/2004 3:15:16 PM PST by Nuzcruizer
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To: cuteconservativechick

Can you recommend a good, sweet Australian white or white zin wine?


32 posted on 12/08/2004 3:16:40 PM PST by Muzzle_em
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To: kupia_kummi

Bwahaahahahahahaa! Down with the Frainsh.


33 posted on 12/08/2004 3:16:57 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: F.J. Mitchell

The best Vinegar comes from Italy too. As I'm sure you know. Ah learnt it on Rick Steves.


34 posted on 12/08/2004 3:18:45 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: RC20
You could instead be working overtime to keep up with production.

You have got to be kidding.

35 posted on 12/08/2004 3:19:33 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: RC20
You could instead be working overtime to keep up with production.

You have got to be kidding. Overtime? What's that? 39 Hours?

36 posted on 12/08/2004 3:19:57 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: Dems_R_Losers

Tant Pis poue Leur. (Too Bad For Them)


37 posted on 12/08/2004 3:21:21 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: timydnuc

Mogen David. Good for Passover and Skid Row Bums.


38 posted on 12/08/2004 3:22:20 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
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To: kupia_kummi

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 that’s propped up by mystique and admiration for their culture and tradition. What morons to not have seen this coming…


39 posted on 12/08/2004 3:22:54 PM PST by elfman2
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To: johnb838

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.


40 posted on 12/08/2004 3:23:23 PM PST by Nuzcruizer
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