French Wine Makers Join List of Murderous Terrorists

[jbg]

Maybe some of my posts blaming Islam on most violence were premature and wrong. Apparently French wine makers, harkening back to their "off with their heads" past, are engaging in murderous tactics to maintain a struggling business.

In order to appreciate this, one has to remember the great contribution of the Founding Fathers of the US to freedom; the Constitution. Remember the contributions of the Founding Fathers of the French Revolution to freedom; the assignat, the guillotine, the worship of "Reason" in place of G-d, and, oh yes, on a more salutory note the Statue of Liberty.

BBC

6/17/07

By Caroline Wyatt

Excerpt:

The group's name is the Crav, which stands for nothing more threatening than the Union for Viticultural Action in the Languedoc region in the south.

The Crav's deadline to the government runs out this weekend, which marks exactly 100 years since wine-makers in the region led their last revolt.

That ended with the French army shooting dead six demonstrators.

No wine-maker will publicly admit to being part of Crav but many sympathise with their demands, if not with their methods.

Trimming the vines in the 17 hectares of vineyard which used to support his family, wine-grower Francois Thiebaud is in despair because of plummeting wine prices.

He says that he and many other wine-makers in this region are now fighting for survival:

"We're working at a loss," he tells me.

<snip>

The group has proved that it is prepared to use violence to achieve its aims.

Already, several local supermarkets selling foreign wines have been attacked with small explosive devices, with others graffitied with the Crav's initials.

The group has also shot at and hijacked at least one lorry containing wine from abroad - and the fear is that the attacks could escalate unless the government responds to the group's demands, which it so far has not.

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6759953.stm

[geoffrey]

It would be truly tradgic to lose some of the French wines, but in all honesty, other countries are putting out comparitively better, more competitively priced product. France isn't alone at the top anymore (if the fans of Tuscany ever admitted that the French were).

[Leafless]

The group has also shot at and hijacked at least one lorry containing wine from abroad - and the fear is that the attacks could escalate unless the government responds to the group's demands, which it so far has not.

France and Francophones could never tolerate any kind of competition without behaving in the 'fashion of Indians and firewater'.

What else is new with this bunch?

[B. Max]

I have never found a french wine yet that I liked. But I have sure drank some excellent home made Italian wine.

[marcinmoka]

I have never found a french wine yet that I liked

You could try looking, it's not that hard. This is a prime example (from last summer):

Memorable...to say the least

Granted. It's not every day we can drink such wines. In all honesty, when it comes to the top wines, the French are still dominant.

But on the lower specters of the market (i.e. what I can afford...being a student and all), they have been put to shame by many others, notably from the new world. Australia, but even the U.S. And the same goes for the Italians.

I just can't wait until the Italians and French finally market (in North America at least) something comparable and *CONSISTENT* as Yellow Tail and at a similar price.

[jbg]

Does all this justify violence? (see beginning of thread).

[geoffrey]

You could try looking, it's not that hard. This is a prime example (from last summer):

Memorable...to say the least

Granted. It's not every day we can drink such wines. In all honesty, when it comes to the top wines, the French are still dominant.

Beautiful. What was the occassion for that one?

Is that your photo or one you found... or the question is really, did you actually drink an '82?? I'm a little jealous. I had a more recent vintage of a Chateauneuf du Pape a year back... grenache with terret noir... very interesting.

Top wines, Tuscany wins everytime. I'll take a Tuscan over Burgandy most days. That said, the French wines have their place.

But on the lower specters of the market (i.e. what I can afford...being a student and all), they have been put to shame by many others, notably from the new world. Australia, but even the U.S. And the same goes for the Italians.

Australia is by far my favourite for cheap, everyday red wine. Yellow tail, Wolf Blass. South Africa makes some wild Shiraz (my favourite to pair with steak)... really bold, nothing works better with a nice 12oz. Rib Eye. I love the Chileans for white... I've had the best pinot grigos from that region... otherwise I'll drink Californian on the white side.

I just can't wait until the Italians and French finally market (in North America at least) something comparable and *CONSISTENT* as Yellow Tail and at a similar price.

The Italians are going to beat the French to it. I've seen some good $15-25 range Italians lately (I'm lucky to live not far from one of the best liquor stores I've ever ran into, so I have massive selection). Then again, you can always get a good Chianti for relatively cheap, and as long as you've got the right food happening, it works well.

[M.Dancer]

It would be truly tradgic to lose some of the French wines, but in all honesty, other countries are putting out comparitively better, more competitively priced product. France isn't alone at the top anymore (if the fans of Tuscany ever admitted that the French were).

I agree but Bordeaux is superior......so is Macon....Beaujolais.......Deux Mers.....Loire.......

There are very good non french wines.....but I will be damned before I pay what the australians are charging for their good plonk...which is to wine as zombies are to the soul......

I would rather pay $8 for a working class portuguesse with spirit than $28 for a McWine from Down Under......

Luckily for the civilised world, there is Italy, Spain and Chile

[marcinmoka]

Then again, you can always get a good Chianti for relatively cheap

Thus far, this has been a good choice. And while it is most often brilliant (for the price), I'm just a little more hesitant due to what seemed as inconsistencies amongst different "cuvées" which makes me a tad more hesitant.

Is that your photo or one you found... or the question is really, did you actually drink an '82?

Indeed. T'was my photo. As per the occasion....nothing.....just a regular Saturday night meal a la bonne gascon in a small town of about 40 people. Our friend, who treated us, happened to be passionate about good wine, and could not refuse when he found out the staff had discovered a little cache of older wines in the cave. But you could

And I was not about to protest. Living in Aquitania had its advantages.