Grapes of wrath for French vineyards as millions of bottles are destroyed

The Scotsman ^ | November 28, 2006 | JENNY BARCHFIELD

[Silly]

Yikes! Block that metaphor!

[OldFriend]

Wouldn't that be loverly!!!!!!

And perhaps their muslims are contributing to the devestation of their wine sales.

[BossLady]

At least the foreign wines are not riddled with sulfites like the California wines...ugh...gives me migraines...

I am very into the Breede Valley, South African wines right now....verrrrry nice!

[Paleo Conservative]

Of course it does. I don't even consider buying wine from France.

How about these?

[MadIvan]

I've been trying wines from the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Nice stuff and inexpensive.

Regards, Ivan

[Silly]

Or this:

[dennisw]

A chronic wine glut, falling domestic consumption...

Muzz don't drink wine LOL!

[MadIvan]

It's not just that. French cuisine and beverages are being undermined. McDonalds hasn't had an easy time of it lately - but I think it was 2004 that they expanded operations in only one country: France.

Perhaps they'll be drinking Miller Lite soon. :)

Regards, Ivan

[Jeff Chandler]

The Australian and New Zealand Rieslings were excellent.

I have always preferred California wines, but have recently been trying Australian wines. Very good indeed.

[CitizenUSA]

Silly wrote: "What not just sell it cheap? Give the world a chance to see if French wine is any good."

Silly person, the French have long given up the concept of a free market economy. If I read the article correctly, they would rather have the government pay them to destroy the wine. The problem would be quickly solved by the free market. No demand for wine? Go out of business or figure out a more efficient way of a making and/or marketing it. The French foolishly use the government to protect them from the very market forces that would make their businesses more competitive. Unfortunately, our leaders aren't doing much better--consider our corporate welfare and farm subsidies.

[Centurion2000]

The problem is, the wine just doesn't sell. European vintages are languishing on the shelf as consumers around the globe reach for bottles from New World producers

That's what happens when your foreign policy steps all over one of the biggest wine markets.

[Silly]

Perhaps this approach would help them get rid of it:

[Jeff Chandler]

Next is the drop in French Poodles...

Yep, dog haters, all. I cannot respect a man who does not like dogs.

[BossLady]

Ah yes....the Georgian wines.... My family is Russian and Czech so I am very familiar with wines from the region ;) Boy, can they make a mean port!

[bruinbirdman]

"European vintages are languishing on the shelf as consumers around the globe reach for bottles from New World producers in the likes of Chile, Australia and South Africa. "

This is true. They make good wine at a good price. Chile has good worldwide trade relations, for sure.

Then a paragraph below the frogs say, "When the Chinese really get into wine, demand for our product is going to explode to the point where if we cut back today, we might not be able to fill it,".

What, you think Chile, Australia, South Africa, USA won't sell to the ChiComs?

yitbos

[jonrick46]

French wine. I do not buy their wine nor do I buy their whine.

[BJungNan]

Certainly the boycott in the U.S. added to the troubles.

[hatfieldmccoy]

My wife and I have boycotted "Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey" wines since the bastards cut us off at the knees pre Iraq war. The White Flag country has there lips firmly pressed against their Muslim Imam's butts and this country boy won't finance their cowardice.

[ChiMark]

Could this be the free market at work? Has France fallen behind in grape technology?

[Uriah_lost]

The boycott had the unforseen effect of getting lots of Americans to realize that there are many and many better wines out there.
I doubt many view their "non-purchase" of French wines as much of a sacrifice anymore.