News report .. "One in three French regional wines 'a s

[stope19]

"ONE in three of all wines marketed under France's regional appellation system - from Bordeaux to Cahors, Saint-Emilion or Sancerre - do not deserve the label, a top consumer group claimed overnight."

More at: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22359600-462,00.html

I'm don't know much about French wine at all, but I thought the 'regional' (terroir) aspect was very 'important' (well, important at least in the marketing!)

cheers,
dave

[Ian S]

I'd back the complaints if the wines are proved to be from outside the appelation. The rules are clear and anyone breaking them is defrauding the customer. If they want to make wine from all over the country, either choose Vin de Pays, or other such general classification and rely on their name & wine quality to sell it... or get the law changed!

The complaints about quality are naive though - I thought everyone knew there are piles of generic crap AOC wines. Not news to me. The old adage 'Producer, Producer, Producer' applies.

regards

Ian

[KMP]

I have a Frenchman working for me who is always asking me what French wine would I like his relatives to bring me when they visit. I never ask for anything specifc, usually just regional. But most of it is just, well, they are gifts so I don't complain. But it seems that its more like 3 to 1 (or worse) of those wines that don't deserve a label.

Mike

PS. I've repaid him and his relatives with stuff like Majella Sparking Shiraz and Yalumba Museum Reserve Muscat, and they feel the same way about those wines. Too much fruit was one comment! Can't drink them with food was another.

[Wayno]

"ONE in three of all wines marketed under France's regional appellation system - from Bordeaux to Cahors, Saint-Emilion or Sancerre - do not deserve the label, a top consumer group claimed overnight."

More at: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22359600-462,00.html

I'm don't know much about French wine at all, but I thought the 'regional' (terroir) aspect was very 'important' (well, important at least in the marketing!)

cheers,
dave

Some of the extended family visited Burgundy for a few days recently and when we caught up with them over here, we had a few chats, comparing notes. Interestingly, some of the producers admittedly pretty openly that the AOC system was bent pretty regularly and there was always a bit of 'fudge factor' (my words) in the winemaking and fruit selection process (as there is here too if you talk to any of the - particularly - corporate winery makers of marketing bods).