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US boycott starts hurting French wines
expatica.com ^ | April 14, 2003

Posted on 04/15/2003 6:20:40 PM PDT by 11th_VA

BORDEAUX, France, April 14 (AFP) - France has begun to feel the effect of a United States boycott of its wines in retaliation for opposition to the US-led war on Iraq, leading merchants said here Monday.

Nicolas Gailly, head of the company Barton et Guestier which claims to be the biggest French wine seller in the United States, admitted sales had gone down, saying American distributors were making less effort to market French products.

"It's not politically correct to promote French products generally and wine in particular," he said.

But Gailly said he was not giving way to pessimisim. His company has annual sales of EUR 40 million (USD 43 million), 95 percent for export.

"What we fear and what is already having direct effect is a boycott not of consumers but of distributors amidst very heavy competition," said Louis-Regis Affre of the French wine and spirt export federation.

The businessmen were speaking at a general assembly of wine merchants of Bordeaux region - home of claret.

Two other merchants, Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Ginestet, also admitted to what was described as a "delicate situation."

"Our information indicates a very clear drop in the number of French wine bottles appearing on store shelves," said Christian Delpeuch, head of Ginestet, which normally has sales of EUR 10 million in the US, or 10 percent of its total.

"They aren't promoting French wines any more," he said: "The catering trade is avoiding them too."

There have been protests against France and boycotts of French products in the United States in recent weeks, with some ceremoniousy pouring French wines down street gutters.

Top US wine critic Robert Parker said in the March issue of Decanter magazine that he was surprised at the volume of anti-French rhetoric in the United States, and expressed fears over its effects on the wine business.

Parker said importers of French wine were complaining that US customs agents were harassing their shipments.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cheese; eating; frenchboycott; monkeys; surrender
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To: Paul Atreides
sacre beau heau!

It took me awhile, but I got it. LOL !!!

21 posted on 04/15/2003 6:40:56 PM PDT by 11th_VA (Let's Roll)
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To: Drango
Yaaaaaay for Californa wineries...USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA
22 posted on 04/15/2003 6:43:41 PM PDT by cubreporter
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To: 11th_VA
Is it "French wine" or "French whine"?
23 posted on 04/15/2003 6:44:04 PM PDT by jackbill
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To: Drango
Lindemans Merlot

We had Yellow Tail merlot last night. Their reds are tasty and inexpensive, but this white isn't all that great, actually. I really like Australian rieslings, better than Washington or Texas.

24 posted on 04/15/2003 6:44:55 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Iraqi liberation! It's a beautiful sight!)
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To: cubreporter
There's also the winery in Chadds Ford, PA. All of six miles away. Why would I pay for all that ocean?
25 posted on 04/15/2003 6:46:19 PM PDT by Windcatcher ("So what did Doug use?" "He used...sarcasm!")
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To: 11th_VA
A quick review:

A list of French companies products to boycott. Some are well known, but many are not. Here goes.

It lists French products to boycott. You will probably be surprised to learn the French own everything from Wild Turkey to Car & Driver to Motel 6 to cheesy Spencer Gifts to disgusting Democrat schlock-show host Jerry Springer.

Air France
Air Liquide
Airbus
Alcatel - Based in Paris France
Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France
Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)
AXA Advisors
Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas
Beneteau (boats)
BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin
BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.
Biotherm (Cosmetics)
Black Bush
Bollinger (Champagne)
Car & Driver Magazine
Cartier
Chanel
Chivas Regal (Scotch)
Christian Dior
Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts
et Consignations)
Culligan (owned by Vivendi)
Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)
DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.
Dom Perignon
Durand Crystal
Elle Magazine
Essilor Optical Products
Evian
Fina Gas Stations
Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields
First Hawaiian Bank
George Magazine
Givenchy
Hennessy
Houghton Mifflin (books)
International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]
Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989
Jameson (wiskey)
Jerry Springer (talk show)
Krups (coffee and cappaccino makers)
Lancome
Le Creuset (Cookware)
L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)
Louis Vuitton
Marie Claire
Martel Cognac
Maybelline
Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)
Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France
Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)
Moet (Champagne)
Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France
Motown Records
MP3.com
Mumms (Champagne)
Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault
Nivea
Normany Butter
Parents Magazine
Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French
Pierre Cardin
Playstation Magazine
ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France
Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising)
RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France
Red Magazine
Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Renault (Automobiles)
Road & Track Magazine
Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France
Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)
Royal Canadian
Salomon (Skis)
Seagram's Gin
Sierra Software and Computer Games
Smart & Final
Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France
Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France
Spencer Gifts
Sundance Channel
Taylor Made (Golf)
Technicolor
T-Fal (Kitchenware)
The Glenlivet (Scotch
Total Gas Stations
UbiSoft (Computer Games)
Uniroyal
Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin
Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) - Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France
USFilter
Veritas Group
Veuve Clicquot Champagne
Vittel
Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France
Wild Turkey (bourbon)
Woman's Day Magazine
Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait
Yves Saint Laurent
Zodiac Inflatable Boats
Hutchinson Tires (bicycle) www.hutchinson.fr
Mavic (bicycle) rims www.mavic.com
Zefal (bicycle accessories) www.zefal.com

Please add to the list and email to your like-minded friends.
26 posted on 04/15/2003 6:51:43 PM PDT by schaketo (The French and their ilk now take Iraq's place in the "Axis of Evil"!)
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To: Drango
good french joke:
Subject: Saudi punishment
An Englishman, a Dutchman and a Frenchman are all in
Saudi Arabia, sharing a
smuggled crate of booze when, all of a sudden, Saudi
police rush in and
arrest them. The mere possession of alcohol is a
severe offence in Saudi
Arabia, so for the terrible crime of actually being
caught consuming the
booze, they are all sentenced to death!

However, after many months and with the help of very
good lawyers, they are
able to successfully appeal their sentences down to
life imprisonment. By a
stroke of luck, it was a Saudi national holiday the
day their trial
finished, and the extremely benevolent Sheikh
decided they could be released
after receiving just 20 lashes each of the whip.

As they were preparing for their punishment, the
Sheikh announced: "It's my
first wife's birthday today, and she has asked me to
allow each of you one
wish before your whipping."

The Dutchman was first in line, he thought for a
while and then said:
"Please tie a pillow to my back.

This was done, but the pillow only lasted 10 lashes
before the whip went
through. When the punishment was done, he had to be
carried away bleeding and
crying with pain.

The Frenchman was next up. After watching the
Dutchman in horror he said
smugly: "Please fix two pillows to my back." But
even two pillows could only
take 15 lashes before the whip went through again
and the Frenchman was soon
led away whimpering loudly (as they do).

The Englishman was the last one up, but before he
could say anything, the
Sheikh turned to him and said: "You are from a most
beautiful part of the
world and your culture is one of the finest in the
world. For this, you may
have two wishes!"

"Thank you, your Most Royal and Merciful highness",
The Englishman replied.
"In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is
that you give me not 20,
but 100 lashes."

"Not only are you an honorable, handsome and
powerful man, you are also
very brave". The Sheikh said with an admiring look
on his face. "If 100
lashes is what you desire, then so be it. And your
second wish, what is it
to be?" the Sheikh asked.

"Tie the Frenchman to my back."


27 posted on 04/15/2003 6:56:01 PM PDT by BOBWADE
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To: schaketo
As we NOT drinking French Whine, don't forget that Australia makes a darn good bottle of the fermented grape as well. It tastes that much better knowing you are not supporting weasels.
28 posted on 04/15/2003 6:57:37 PM PDT by TCSparkman ((Read www.Chronwatch.com!))
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To: annyokie; Dog; Neets; Bitwhacker; ABG(anybody but Gore); b4its2late; M Kehoe; Howlin; rintense; ...
Clever!
29 posted on 04/15/2003 6:58:08 PM PDT by kayak (Help keep the lights on .... Donate to FR!)
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To: zip
ping
30 posted on 04/15/2003 6:59:06 PM PDT by BOBWADE
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To: 11th_VA
Today, at our local Albertson's (grocery store), all the specialty breads were almost sold out...all except the French bread, it was darn near untouched. ...(giggle)... It's not even baked in France and JoeBob average American is buying Italian. Carry on America!
31 posted on 04/15/2003 6:59:59 PM PDT by boreddough
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To: BOBWADE
LOL!
32 posted on 04/15/2003 7:00:19 PM PDT by kayak (Help keep the lights on .... Donate to FR!)
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To: 11th_VA
MAN, I love being a conservative!
33 posted on 04/15/2003 7:00:41 PM PDT by Teacher317
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To: 11th_VA
Let's see, frog whine or Kentucky Bourbon. No contest.
34 posted on 04/15/2003 7:01:33 PM PDT by Beck_isright ("QUAGMIRE" - French word for "unable to find anyone to surrender to")
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To: boreddough
Remember that movie with Dudley Moore about advertising? Where he went over the deep end and started a trend in brutally honest advertising slogans? One was an ad for the Greek Touristry Ministry (or something to that effect):

"Don't go to France; the French can be annoying. Come to Greece; we're nicer."
35 posted on 04/15/2003 7:02:34 PM PDT by Windcatcher ("So what did Doug use?" "He used...sarcasm!")
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To: azsportsterman
My mother LOVES that Velvet White.
36 posted on 04/15/2003 7:03:05 PM PDT by Anamensis (New axis of evil: Syria, Iran, Hollywood)
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To: Beck_isright
I'm a Cognac freak and I'm switching to MacAllan Scotch Whisky. Wonderful stuff...
37 posted on 04/15/2003 7:03:57 PM PDT by Windcatcher ("So what did Doug use?" "He used...sarcasm!")
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To: annyokie
Ann! Where did you get this map?
That is absolutely priceless!!!
Kudos! Kudos!
38 posted on 04/15/2003 7:06:25 PM PDT by MeekMom ((HUGE Ann Coulter Fan!!!) (Missing the Gipper Terribly!))
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To: annyokie
That map is just too FUNNY! I've been laughing out loud ever since I saw it. Thanks.
39 posted on 04/15/2003 7:08:18 PM PDT by kitkat
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To: Dog Gone
"Too bad nobody has ever heard of any Russian wines to boycott."

There's always Russian Vodka, but they also probably sold us some of the fuel that those Bradleys and Humvees used to get to Baghdad.
40 posted on 04/15/2003 7:09:54 PM PDT by skr (The Butcher of Baghdad is? a WMD)
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