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| Europe |
| French |
| 2004-07-22 |
| France's agriculture minister pledged Wednesday to inject more money into the promotion of French wines as the industry braces for a new dilemma: a bumper harvest. After meeting with winemakers, Herve Gaymard announced plans for a 50 percent increase in public funding just two days after his ministry forecast that the country will produce 1.5 billion gallons of wine in 2004 — 20 percent more than last year. Production was hurt last year by a record-breaking heat wave that scorched Europe. For an industry that's already overproducing, a good harvest can be bad news. "On the one side, we've got a market that's shrinking, and then — in France at least — there's a potential production that's very high," Roland Feredj, director general of the Council of Bordeaux Wines, said in a television interview. "The risk is there will be a very strong imbalance in the market because supply is going to be strong and demand will be weak." Especially American demand for French wine. "French wines have steadily lost market share in the USA, Britain and other big markets in the last decade. The trend has been accelerating in the USA, where French wines have experienced double-digit monthly declines since spring as a result of the bitter Washington-Paris rift about the Iraq war." Gaymard's talks with winemakers aimed at reviving the flagging fortunes of France's vineyards, which are squeezed between falling consumption at home and tougher competition abroad. Gaymard said funding for "promotion and communication" for French wines would be increased to $18.5 million from $12.3 million. Global prices are already depressed by an oversupply of up to 1.6 billion gallons a year on world markets, Feredj said. According to figures published Wednesday in the financial daily La Tribune, the value of French wine exports fell 10 percent in the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2002. Exports also fell compared with 2003, which is seen as an atypical year because of the heat wave and a lucrative sell-off of Bordeaux wines made in 2000. Wines from places like Chile, Australia and California overtook French wines on global export markets for the first time in 2003. France exported 1.78 billion bottles; so-called New World vintners exported 1.93 billion. The global oversupply of wine and downward pressure on prices makes mass marketing campaigns crucial to winning and keeping market share. Improving cooperation among France's thousands of small vineyards and simplifying their message abroad were among the items discussed at the Paris meeting Wednesday. Not all the winemakers' problems lie overseas. Wine consumption has been falling steadily the past four decades in France, where the average person over 14 now drinks just a quarter bottle a day. In 1961 it was a half bottle. Sales have been hurt by an onslaught of anti-alcohol campaigns and tougher drunk driving rules the last two years. This has prompted protests by winemakers' groups, who earlier this month gave out free bottles of wine at highway toll stations to protest what they see as overzealous rules. To boost consumption, powerful wine-loving lawmakers are demanding the lifting of advertising restrictions. All together now: TOUGH SHIT YOU TREACHEROUS GALLIC LOSERS! F&%K OFF AND DIE WITH ALL YOUR CONSTANT UNDERMINING OF ANTI-TERRORISM EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY IN IRAN. AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, STICK YOUR VILE ANTI-SEMITISM WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE! |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #11 Big Ed, pretty frigging good Brandy too. After all, if you need a Brandy expert in the US head for Wisconsin or 'da UP |
| Posted by: cheaderhead 2004-07-22 10:46:31 PM |
| #10 Oh great, more Woody Allen TV ads. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-07-22 6:21:32 PM |
| #9 Might I suggest Yellow Tail wines from Australia as a substitute? The Shiraz is excellent. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-07-22 3:20:36 PM |
| #8 #1 It is rather ironic that the Frogs screwed up the relations with one of their biggest markets to fawn over folk that don't drink, no? And the award for "Most Ironic Post in an anti-French Diatribe" goes to ... Good call, Alan. If the French think Muslim crime and unrest are bad now, just see what happens when their voting population becomes outnumbered and sharia law is put in place. Gallic anti-Semitism is just one facet of a much deeper and pervasive xenophobic French provincialism that rejects all outsiders. The "Muslim ghetto" problem in Paris is a clear example of this. France is merrily breeding up their own doom. If they weren't so busy pissing in the global punchbowl, I'd say let them go ahead and rot. Instead, the French are in desperate need of some international parking lot therapy. All of Europe neeeds to carefully examine what is happening in France and do the exact opposite. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-07-22 3:16:45 PM |
| #7 This just in: "French grapevines go on strike for better working conditions, improved services..." |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-07-22 2:49:46 PM |
| #6 If they become the FRENCH ISLAMIC REPUBLIC officially, then all the vines will be ripped out (no alcohol you see) and this whole arguement will be moot. BUY CALIFORNIA WINE! Since Muslims think wine and dogs are bad. . . Piss 'em OFF! Support the Korbels of Napa. They not only make California Champagne, but breed Boxer dogs! Champagne Dawgs |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-07-22 2:46:16 PM |
| #5 Horaay!!Keep that boycott going America! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-07-22 2:25:52 PM |
| #4 Still producing top-quality whines, I see. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-07-22 12:59:02 PM |
| #3 French wines have steadily lost market share in the USA, Britain and other big markets in the last decade a significant reason for this is that while US, Australian, South African and Chilean vintners have turned to scientific methods for assessing the quality of the soil, grape and wine, the french have steadfastly rejected science and have held onto their old methods, using "experts." typical. Side with the loser. How consistent. The thing is, though, when you side with the loser, you lose. I'm surprised they didn't call for a strike. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-07-22 11:19:01 AM |
| #2 Hear hear, Zenster! |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-07-22 10:07:43 AM |
| #1 It is rather ironic that the Frogs screwed up the relations with one of their biggest markets to fawn over folk that don't drink, no? |
| Posted by: Alan 2004-07-22 9:05:27 AM |