Article

2006-02-17 Europe

French wine industry plunging into state of crisis

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Posted by Seafarious 2006-02-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Why are they worried? Its not like they are going to be allowed to produce wine anyway, after Sharia is imposed. If anything, by having their wine industry collapse now, there will be ~~less trauma~~ more important things to worry about when all the other...features...of islamic law kick in.

Posted by N guard 2006-02-17 00:18|| 2006-02-17 00:18|| Front Page Top

#2 their government and urban elites pushed policies which led to a backlash among consumers, harshened by a wine glut on the market. Get over it. When I see Paris's gutters run with red wine and strikes/uprisings among farmers demanding Chirac's head, I'll smirk and shed a slight tear

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-02-17 00:24|| 2006-02-17 00:24|| Front Page Top

#3 part of the problem is that they rejected modern, scientific management of grape cultivation and wine production which has produced higher quality wines at lower costs.

they wanted to adhere to traditional practices. quaint, but less efficient.

this is the fallout of those decisions.

Posted by PlanetDan">PlanetDan 2006-02-17 07:44|| 2006-02-17 07:44|| Front Page Top

#4 Um, I think you left out the little bit about their political leaders being duplicitous back-stabbing pricks and assholes, pissing off the deepest pockets on the entire planet and causing sales to fall precipitously, there, PD. But your point is taken, heh. ;-)

Posted by .com 2006-02-17 07:48|| 2006-02-17 07:48|| Front Page Top

#5 PlanetDan

When you aim for the high-end customers then being expensive actually increases your sales: your customers don't want a beverage that your average can afford and in addition your outrageous prices mean nothing to them: Bill Gates can afford to drink only wines at 1,000$ per bottle: his annual consumption will be only a few seconds of his revenue.

Being very expensive has ever been one of teh secrets of the French producers of Bordeaux and Champagne.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2006-02-17 10:00|| 2006-02-17 10:00|| Front Page Top

#6 from the geography i dont know that these are high end guys. We forget that France produces oceans of "vin ordinaire" thats consumed domestically. Drops in domestic consumption could be really hard on these people.

Posted by liberalhawk 2006-02-17 10:05|| 2006-02-17 10:05|| Front Page Top

#7 LH, I think you're right. I posted about a year ago about another demonstration in the same region, and A5089 or JFM said these are the table wine producers. And I still feel sad, because a nice glass of good French wine is one of Western civilization's finest achievements and I'd hate for that to go away.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2006-02-17 10:12|| 2006-02-17 10:12|| Front Page Top

#8 ...with donkeys, goats and sheep in tow.

Look, an Arab harem! Whooo hoo!

Posted by Raj 2006-02-17 10:20|| 2006-02-17 10:20|| Front Page Top

#9 Look, it's happening in Kentucky, too...

Posted by Raj 2006-02-17 10:24|| 2006-02-17 10:24|| Front Page Top

#10 Hey Seafarious, try Golan Heights wines.

Posted by gromgoru 2006-02-17 10:54|| 2006-02-17 10:54|| Front Page Top

#11
Crap, I was gonna type some witty and unique comment, but N guard stole thought in the 1st post. You gotta comment early on Rantburg!!

Posted by macofromoc 2006-02-17 10:56|| 2006-02-17 10:56|| Front Page Top

#12 I actually prefer Spanish and Australian wine to French.
I just see this as more proof that the EU economic and socialist model is f00ked.

Posted by mmurray821 2006-02-17 11:17|| 2006-02-17 11:17|| Front Page Top

#13 Um, I think you left out the little bit about their political leaders being duplicitous back-stabbing pricks and assholes, pissing off the deepest pockets on the entire planet and causing sales to fall precipitously

Sorta sums it up. To quote Monty Python:

Never kill a customer!

We'll leave out how the Australians are now producing some of the most innovative (cabernet - shiraz blends) and entertaining (white shiraz) wines on the planet. Good to see one of our best allies eating France's lunch.

Posted by Zenster 2006-02-17 12:13|| 2006-02-17 12:13|| Front Page Top

#14 "This story makes me a little melancholy for some reason..."

Yeah, me too, until I read the article while enjoying a nice American IPA home brew:)

Mmmm home brew...

Posted by Hyper">Hyper 2006-02-17 15:24|| 2006-02-17 15:24|| Front Page Top

#15 "Break with the EU, to defend wine and winegrowers!"

Boy, that EU thing looks like it's working out real well, don't it? When is that "economic powerhouse" thingy supposed to show up?

Posted by tu3031 2006-02-17 15:33|| 2006-02-17 15:33|| Front Page Top

#16 Danish flag sales are up, tu.

Posted by Darrell 2006-02-17 18:35|| 2006-02-17 18:35|| Front Page Top

#17 You gotta comment early on Rantburg!!
The tyranny of time zones.

Perth, Australia

Posted by phil_b">phil_b 2006-02-17 23:06|| http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/]">[http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/] 2006-02-17 23:06|| Front Page Top

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