[mr dragon]

France wine producers guilty of US scandal

A dozen French winemakers and traders have been found guilty of a massive scam to sell 18 million bottles of fake Pinot Noir to a leading US buyer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8520980.stm

[kitchenwitch]

Hmmmm. So none of the Americans caught on that it wasn't really Pinot Noir and it was the "enormously popular" Red Bicyclette brand. Speaks volumes to me. I think a bottle of that goes for $7 or $8 dollars.

I don't usually drink that because I'm way cheaper than that. I like Barefoot wine out of California and I can get a bottle of that for $5. If I'm going to be swindled through the wine I buy, I want to be swindled by fellow Americans.

[mr dragon]

I've noticed, over the years, that wine does seem to be cheaper in some countries than the UK. The bottom range Gallo's seem to be about 5 quid here, and I don't normally spend much less than a fiver on a bottle of wine. It's just not worth it in my view. Then again, I think we pay more here. I used to notice in the Netherlands you could often get the same brands for cheaper.

[kitchenwitch]

We get Australian wines for dirt cheap too, and most of those are pretty good. I'm sure it has a lot to do with various trade agreements because there are a lot of American wines that are much more expensive than some of the imports and you have to figure shipping alone cost more than what you just paid for the bottle, but the expensive American wine doesn't taste any better.

And E&J don't have much of a reputation as a fine winery. They're more of a jug wine producer IMHO. A step or two above Boone's Farm, but just barely.

[bll]

Gallo actually made the majority of their fortune supplying jug wines to the Catholic church pre-prohibition, and kept the contract through-out.

[mr dragon]

And E&J don't have much of a reputation as a fine winery. They're more of a jug wine producer IMHO. A step or two above Boone's Farm, but just barely.

I don't really like Gallo either. It's kind of considered a cheap wine for here. Though I didn't want to be rude about it in case anyone likes it!

Ozzy, NZ and South African wines are generally better priced for the UK as well- you can get more for your buck. Some Argentinian wines also the same. French wines are always more expensive, though the expensive ones can definitely be worth it if you don't mind spending the cash.

[JuanaLaLoca]

Gallo actually made the majority of their fortune supplying jug wines to the Catholic church pre-prohibition, and kept the contract through-out.

I remember hearing something like that, but I think it was Wente Vineyards, when I took a tour there some years back (they claim to be "Founded 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country's oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery."). I guess the Church kept a few vineyards going through Prohibition. I think they may have also mentioned Gallo when they spoke about it, and that they were the only ones to survive that period.

Wow, I just was looking at their website, and they have concerts in the vineyard. Great acts coming up, like James Taylor, Heart, Elvis Costello, the B-52s, the Steve Miller Band, Blondie, and Pat Benatar. Too bad I don't live in California - sounds like fun!

http://www.wentevineyards.com/