French Wine Sales Still Dropping in United States

Wine Spectator ^ | June 18, 2003 | Dana Nigro

[mountaineer]

I used to buy at least a couple of bottles of French wine per month, but haven't done so for several months. Last night, we tried an Oregon dry gewurtztraminer - not bad. Ggenerally, we've been drinking California Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Cabernet Sauvignons, and Italian or Spanish reds (Montepulciano d'Abbruzzo, Rioja, etc.).

[A_perfect_lady]

I sure do miss brie, though....

[lawgirl]

I don't think we are holding a grudge--I think it's permanent. I know I will never again knowingly buy a French product- that's way beyond a grudge. That's changing my buying patterns.

[quebecois]

I've never had a fascination with French wines, despite my ancestry. I think that the tannins are too high. I prefer Australian reds and Chilean whites.

[tdadams]

The kids have given up asking for Dannon; they know it's not coming back. Likewise the wine.

Your kids have quit asking for French wine?

[tdadams]

A man was trying to trade his 2001 Saab, the dealership did not want it.

What does that have to do with French wine? Saabs are Swedish and the company is a division of GM now. Has been for almost 10 years.

[Mamzelle]

Though I don't like 90% of the wines (I enjoy local "folk wines") that are out there, I've been reading that this is the most incredible year for West Coast wines, ever. That excellent wines are going to be available at very low prices.

Wonder about east coast wines?

That, combined with widespread Franco-loathing, will send the French vintners whining to the French guv.

[Mamzelle]

I had been hooked on French perfumes--have finally found an excellent replacement--"Beautiful" by Estee Lauder. You just don't get more American than Lauder, an immigrant success story.

[MsGail61]

After 4 months I'm still using Clairol instead of L'oreal for hair coloring. I wish I knew if that industry has noticed a difference.

[Mamzelle]

When I was shopping for perfumes, I mentioned to the counter-gal that I was seeking alternatives to all the french stuff, and her reply--"I hear that all the time"--apparently the Lancome counter in the same store is suffering few sales. However, I do live in a very conservative area.

[lawgirl]

Estee is the best- I have Beautiful, Intution, and Tuscanny by her. I use a lot of her facial stuff. Cannot beat her eyeshadows.

[Mamzelle]

Estee skincare is a bit pricier than Clinique, and they're both the same mfger--so I sometimes find something on the Estee counter, then look for it in Clinique. (g)

[Barnacle]

I just had a great Illinois wine (so to speak).

A friend has a club that ships in grapes from Calafornia and they go to work on them. I'm getting in on the next vintage.

[concentric circles]

Now that's something I haven't tried but home winemaking intrigues me and brewing kind of goes hand in hand with the process. I'll have to clean out the garage!

[ameribbean expat]

the drop is more significant than indicated in that the dollar has dropped against the euro. not only are sales decreasing, but the sales which do occur are transacted in dollars worth substantially less versus the euro than at the beginning of the year. direct hit to the bottom line of all those chateaus. a beautiful thing to watch.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this.

I just sent it to the wife of a young couple in the wine business.

They are the true odd couple. She is a real conservative from conservative parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

He is the son of FDR rats. Even though he is a business owner in the wine busines, he still thinks like a rat. He tried to tell me two weeks ago that our boycott of French wines was over and was ineffective. I told him that if he continued to lie and think like a liberal his business would fail.

His wife will appreciate this article.

[RedWhiteBlue]

I highly recommend Messina Hof's Papa Paulo Port - Double Barrel aged. It has won many gold medals, including competitions in France. Very smooth and sublime. One sip seems to make my salivary glands explode in waves. Every time I serve it to guests, they go nuts over it. Goes great by itself or anything gooey chocolate. I have also heard that it is really wonderful with Brie.

Messina Hof has a patented yeast that they use to produce this wine, and they get the higher alcohol content strictly from this yeast -- it is not from topping of with another liquor (what is it -- cognac or brandy? I can't recall which).

[concentric circles]

...incredible year...

There has been a huge surplus of grapes worldwide. This has driven the price of lower end wines down but better wines come from better grapes and their supply is more stable. There's a lot to choose from in the sub $10 range.

Normal market forces, as in the current economic downturn, have had an impact on higher priced wines and their prices have crept downward a little. The strong dollar of recent years has also given us a broad range of attractively priced imports to choose from.

Great wines still command great prices, if no one buys them now, another year in storage won't be a problem.

I must confess compassion for the ordinary people who may be hurt by their government's actions. The french growers, vintners, and sellers are surely like most of us, wanting to live life joyously with family and friends, and cursing the idiots in the regional capitols and in Paris.

There's a great story about the patriarch of American winemaking, Robert Mondavi, here. He just turned 90. I should do a search and post this story of a fascinating man if no one else has.

[fish hawk]

Texas wines are a little on the 'oily' side and will give you gas.

[concentric circles]

I think you'd enjoy the Mondavi story linked just above in the thread.