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I go through about 2 or 3 bottles of wine a month. Not quite a connoisseur but I know good wine from bad. There is no doubt that the United States produces many of the finest wines in the world. California by itself would be the world superpower of wine but there are many fine wines in other parts of the country too. I have some Virginia wines that are very good and everytime I'm down that way, I stop at wineries to stock up such as the one near the Natural Bridge on I-81. North Carolina has some good wines too.

In fact, I wouldn't even put France second to the U.S. I would rather have wines from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Portugal and even Argentina and Chile before I touch a French wine. About the only French wine I ever buy these days is the annual crop of Beaujolis Noveau (intended to be consumed fresh and not to be aged) that comes out each year around Thanksgiving and only because it is a holiday tradition and my family looks for it at the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

I would rather have wines from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Portugal and even Argentina and Chile before I touch a French wine.

This is definitly wrong. The French have areas where the factors to create a good wine are not bad:

-volcanic soil

-good climate conditions

-winegrowers that know their business

I do not say that they produce the best wines. But some of the best for sure. Even in cold Germany you will find excellent wines when you go into the right areas. I.e. Wines from the Kaiserstuhl (a extinct volcano) in the Rhine valley are just great - but not sold in the US since they have no market there.

Besides - My personal hint is to drink simply the wine of the area where you are if you travel around. I usually never buy wines from abroad on my journeys. My job gives me the possibility to travel so I have the privilege of variety.