France's Wine Terrorists

[JWMINNESOTA]

Interesting read this morning.


http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1828722,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-full-world

 

[grapeman]

It seems interesting. All the wine kits go up because of increased juice costs, but then we hear of wine so cheap it is less than $4 a gallon or 80 cents a bottle already made! I wonder who is benefiting from global economy besides the host of the Olympics?

 

[joeswine]

leave it to the french,what next.

 

[OilnH2O]

That article says volumes about the differences between our two countries.

And, while some might argue that our crop subsidies are similar to "we want government protection" from the global market in wine, we don't resort to bombs and violence. I'm not trying to make this political (moderators are free to zap me if I'm out of line!) but this is what happens when government is thought of as the solution to all problems. As I read the article, part of the problem is overproduction as well as imported juice. If the government chooses to prop up those producers who are "dying a slow death" (according to the article) or restrict imports of the "cheap" grapes/juice from other countries, maybe some of that "cheap juice" will find its way to the US... and "us!" Interestingly enough, the comment about the solution being less "plonk" and more fine wines might actually make a positive economic difference for French producers over time.

Okay, okay... I'll just go and check my airlocks....