Le boo. Le hoo.
Posted on 01/06/2005 6:47:18 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
BORDEAUX, France, Jan 6 (AFP) - Bordeaux wine producers announced more depressing export figures Thursday, with sales to the United States down by more than a third in a year.
Overall exports from the historic wine region of southwest France were down 10 percent in volume and 24 percent in value for the first three quarters of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003, according to the Interprofessional Council of Bordeaux Wine (CIVB).
Exports to the United States were down by a massive 35 percent in volume and 59 percent in value, and sales to Britain down by 21 percent in volume and 33 percent in value, it reported.
In all the region sold 1.27 million hectolitres in the year to October, for EUR 786 million (USD 1,037 million).
The only good news was an increase in sales to Russia and the Asian market.
French wine-makers are going through their worst crisis in decades thanks to competition from new producer countries and falling domestic consumption.
I can't really boycott Wine because I don't drink wine, but I boycott boycotts anyway....
PING!!! :)
Oo la la!
Haven't bought anything from France since before the invasion of Iraq. We love the Australian and Chilian wines we've discovered since then. I don't miss French products at all.
I've been reading that a lot of this has to do with the frenchies failing to adopt new technology added to the fact that France really is not the best place in the world to grow wine grapes by a long shot.
I don't know from winemaking however, does anyone out their know the details.
There are quite a few high quality California wines too.
Before claiming ALL the credit for boycott, one should consider that dollar depreciation put price pressure on French products in general. So only part of the credit goes to boycott, and it would be interesting to know how large a part. I'd guess maybe 40-50%.
I also prefer American Cheese with my American Wine! It has a lot to do with the Earth that produces it, the Chemical ans Biological makeup of the soil. The French soil has way to much Bull Shit in it, ruins the taste!
35 percent down in US wine exports might, maybe, could have something to do with it also. Just maybe.
We simply don't want to drink your yellow bellied, sap sucking, arrogant pigs, surrender loving, wine anymore :)
I also quit buying their drinking water, and check to see where my cosmetics are made before buying them
"Haven't bought anything from France since before the invasion of Iraq. We love the Australian and Chilian wines we've discovered since then. I don't miss French products at all."
I fly to Asia 2x per year using frequent flyer miles. When I schedule, I tell Delta I'd prefer to go via Europe (better connections) but I refuse to land in France or fly on Air France, a Delta partner, which would shorten my trip by 3 - 12 hours. They understand just fine.
wine sux
I'll NEVER buy another bottle of French wine.
Muslims aren't supposed to drink alcohol.
Russians prefer vodka.
Maybe they can get their Chinese friends to buy it.
Having said that, French wine is certainly excellent. The thing is, they (the French) have monopolized the mystique for too long. It's like, of course only the French know how...
French winegrapes are excellent...but so are Napa/Sonoma. And Australian, and Chilean. I recently tasted a Pinot Blanc from South Africa...excellent.
Did I mention the Reislings and Sylvaner from Germany?
I almost left out the Brunello and Barolo from Italy; the Tokay from Hungary.
Oh, and the Tempranillo from Spain...yikes. The best.
Well, you get the point. There's good wine from all over the world. Even from your own garage, if you're so inclined.
A new wine for seniors
Here is a new California wine......
Wine For Seniors
California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produces
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new
hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic. It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.
The new wine will be marketed as Pino More.
Just watched "Sideways" the other day. Didn't realize that "wine culture" is so strong in some parts of CA.
I have been getting some Chilean Cabs that are most excellent. They have reached Cali quality and on their way to surpassing it. And they are very reasonably priced. Some nice merlots and a very tasty syrah also.
From Lafitte to yellow tail, that's quite a move.
My wife is helping to drive a french cosmetic company (Yves Roches) into the ground. She buys a 99 cent lipstick and they send her about 20 bucks worth of freebies. Just the shipping costs them a couple of bucks. Shes been milking em for a couple of years. LOL!!!
Excellent post. When is your next garage tasting?...;-)
I wondered why that last bottle you sent me tasted a bit like antifreeze :)
LOL, I have a bottling machine, but you never know what was in it last...
What bottlings of Chilean cabs do you recommend?
There is a thread around here on FR which details the list of French owned, or subsidized companies, operating here in the United States.
Me neither. I make a point to tell dealers of french commodities the reasons why.
Italian wines and wines from other more friendly nations are better anyway
We buy Yellow Tail and Black Swan by the case loads.
Where oh where can I find Pino More. Help!!!
Primitivo is closely related to Zinfandel; many wine scientists believe it's the same grape.
A good California Red Zinfandel is a blessing...
May I suggest some wines from Oregon and Washington? We aren't all blue here.
Purchase a Pinot Noir from Oregon.
Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.
I'll suggest Henry Estate, but there are many others to consider.
I agree. Pinot Noir from Oregon and Washington are the best from the USA; far better than Pinot Noir from California.
Thanks, I'll have to check them out. I'm pretty picky about Chard, since I make my own. But I buy between vintages because it's great to experience the different styles. It helps my own efforts.
There are some very good small American wineries...not only California, but Texas and Arizona both have several that are nice. Both in taste and price. Enjoy!
Case in point, Kendal Jackson artist series $75 Cabernet Sauvegnion is just about as good as the $175 Rothschild from Bordeaux. In other words not only the economical bottle from mass production is beating the French, no, even the high end California is beating the French.
I am from Montana -- we even have some very good choices of wine from Montana -- world wide award winners!
I would rather buy a Montana wine (or wine from any state in the USA) than that French crap!!!
Let them not only eat cake but drink wine!!!!
Certain French Bordeaux and Burgundy wines are the best reds in the world.
Their sauternes are also the best...not that I drink them much.
The Chautenuf de Papes are also very nice.
That said....boycotting them is fine by me but folks who try to rationalize that French wines are not the best anyhow are simply wrong in my view.
Napa area reds are quite nice but lack the complexity in my view and are actually more expensive proportional to taste.
Take Cakebread. or Caymus Reserve.. a great Kali Cab but for 125-150 bucks or more I'd rather have a good Lynch Bages or Cos de Estournel or Ducru etc.
And Petrus, Le Pen or Lafite or Margaux or a La Tache level burgundy...hell, those wines are like a Porsche...there is no substitute.
One man's opinion. The world is full of great wines but the best of the best are either Bordeaux (St Estephe, St Emilion, Pomerol, Paulliac, Marguax, St Julien) or Burgundy (Vosne-Romanee, Gevrey Chambertin )
Boycott all ya'll want but don't delude yourselves. Wine is one thing the Sapos do very well at the high end....red wine speaking.
French whines!
White wine...even a Montrachet or a vintage Chateau Potelle Chard.....are still what one drinks
...before they drink real wine which is red.
blush....the horror.
I think the Spanish and Italians make the best Reds for the $$$
Did you you know that 120 is about a myth of 120 soldiers hiding from the enemy in a wine celler? When an overwheming force enter the celler all the troops could not be found.
I agree about Yellow Tail; actually not bad but the Shiraz is what puts them on the map IMHO.
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