French Wine Industry in Crisis?

[Craig Camp]

France's winemakers will hold emergency talks with the prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, tomorrow to demand urgent government action amid warnings that the country's most emblematic industry is plunging into crisis.

[Lisa J]

I saw a report on this on French television tonight. There was a suggestion that it would be beneficial to modify French wine labeling for the export markets, so that the novice wine consumers would better understand the types of wines, when they are deciding between an Aussie Syrah and a French bottle.

[mnebergall]

"If the French are drinking less in restaurants, they argue, it is largely because the police, at the instigation of the interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, have begun to treat drink-driving as a serious offence. "

[tighe]

I saw a report on this on French television tonight. There was a suggestion that it would be beneficial to modify French wine labeling for the export markets, so that the novice wine consumers would better understand the types of wines, when they are deciding between an Aussie Syrah and a French bottle.

I think this would help them greatly. Most new wine drinkers don't have any ideal what a Chateauneuf-du-Pape is, but if they could see its a blend of syrah and grenache, they might have some reference.

Knowing the French, they'll just subsidize the whole thing and a lot of crappy wine will get produced.