French Wine Sales Still Dropping in United States

Wine Spectator ^ | June 18, 2003 | Dana Nigro

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Are Americans still holding a grudge? For the third consecutive four-week period, sales of French table wines in the United States have declined substantially, following drops in March and April.

French wine sales dropped 26.2 percent in case volume and 27 percent in dollar value for the four weeks ending May 18, 2003, compared to the same period a year ago, according to retail data from Information Resources Inc. That's the biggest decrease in French wines for any four-week period since the calls for a boycott heated up in response to France's refusal to support war in Iraq; for the 12 weeks ending May 18, the decline averages out to 23.9 percent in volume and 24 percent in dollar value.

At the same time, sales of table wines from around the world have been on the rise compared to a year ago. According to IRI, overall wine sales increased 4.4 percent in volume and 1.5 percent in value for the four weeks ending May 18. Those numbers would have been even higher if it had not been for the drop in French wines. IRI's InfoScan tracking service collects scanner data from multiple retail outlets in the United States.

Sales of table wines from the United States were up again in volume (2.1 percent) for the May period, following a rise in the April period, but down slightly in value (1.6 percent), according to IRI.

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27% drop for most recent 4 week period. Biggest decrease since Americans stood up for a free Iraq and one less terrorist named Saddam.

Tried an excellent 2000 Paso Robles Zinfandel last weekend.

Previous threads: April and May.

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Had an excellent Drome Gigondas last evening.... won't give it up.

[stboz]

Just passed up Louis Jadot BoJollys even though it was as cheap as I've seen in a long time. Four Q, Frenchies.

[PoorMuttly]

California wines gooood.

So are American cheeses.

[Recovering_Democrat]

ha ha ha. great news. the french can bite it.

[Honcho Bongs]

Wisconsin cheeses are excellent and Italian wines are some of my favorites.

[2111USMC]

Did you hear about the Frenchman that locked his keys in the car?

It took him 6 hours to get his wife and kids out!

[PoorMuttly]

That will also do.

Are there moose in Italy ?

[tet68]

As they say,

"Drinking French wine makes one long for German Beer!"

[Joee]

I don't know where I now am on the "social ladder," but I have switched my wine drinking to "down under" juice and find it "great grapes." Also since then, I no longer take the Limo, but have switched to Da Bus.

[UB355]

I've watched recently at a local Walgreens Drug store near my home in WI. Evian water's not being restocked, don't have to nobody is buying it.

[BluH2o]

Australian, in my most humble opinion, are the best bang for the buck ... consistantly very good and priced to sell.

[freedumb2003]

>>Australian, in my most humble opinion, are the best bang for the buck ... consistantly very good and priced to sell. <<

And aussies are both stand-up folk and funny to boot!

[mdittmar]

Let them eat cake.

[gorush]

Just when I think that all is lost, I read an article like this that rekindles hope...what an emotional roller coaster!

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[conservativecorner]

GREAT NEWS and a bump!

[illumini]

This figures, since only Republicans can afford the French wine. Nice move Jaques.

[Arthalion]

The downturn in the French wine sales has more to do with the repercussions of the boycott than the boycott itself. Several "French only" wine drinkers that I knew took advantage of the boycott to try some Italian, Australian, and California wines, and found that they were as good or better than their French counterparts. They are buying French wines again now that the war is over, but of the six or seven bottles they buy a month, only one or two are imported from France. I'd suspect that the same scenario is playing out across the country.

Personally, I used to buy about a bottle a month of French, and haven't touched their wines since the whole boycott thing started (being a Californian, I mostly drink local stuff). I'm sampling Italians at the moment, and plan on moving to Australians after that. Any suggestions on good wines from these countries would be appreciated :-)

[A Citizen Reporter]

I'm a member of the Wine-of-the-Month club. Normally they send out one domestic and one import every month. There have been several months this year, when they have sent out two domestics. And I haven't seen them even try to send a French wine, since the boycott started.