It's really just a matter of boredom with the French product. There's just nothing new in French wines. All the fun stuff is happening in Australia / New Zealand, South America, Africa, Spain, even still in California and the Pacific Northwest. Why buy a cheap, bland Beaujolais when you can buy a dozen different wines and unlimited numbers of blends from elsewhere?
Right now I am eating an apple and drinking an Italian Pinot Noir under the Casarsa lable. It is a 1.5 litter bottle I bought for $4.50. Many would consider it cheap rot gut wine. However, I find that the cheaper the wine, the more kick it has in taste. The apple adds dimension to the taste. The Italians have my loyalty because they have helped the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lunga vita all' Italia!