French wines make a comeback

French wines are quietly making a comeback thanks to a New World market that is exhibiting the kind of smugness that first had the French on the run. Drought, consolidation, the dumb-it-down factor and sweet-tasting, high-alcohol wines are tiring out New World drinkers, in effect driving them right back into the hands of the French.

In the right place at the right time are Rhone Valley producers where, according to the folks at Sopexa Canada, some 16 per cent of winemakers are under 35 years old, or three per cent more than the national average.

Wines of Val de Loire area

Founded in 1947, the Friedrich company is the result of one man’s will to devote himself to improving the market position and standing of Loire wines. In 60 years, thanks to the efforts of André Friedrich, this company has developed from a business trading and bottling wine in the Val de Loire to being the undisputed leader in the French Bag-in-box wine market.

Planning a Wine Trip to France Just Got Easier

The main wine regions of France have been broken down into smaller sections, enabling a real focus on the most attractive towns, villages and tourist sights in the area. Connoisseur wine lovers will appreciate the hand-picked selection of wine producers who will provide a great welcome and tour of their cellars along with an interesting wine tasting. Newcomers to wine will enjoy the careful mix of wine and tourist attractions.

A recent subscriber wrote to say: "I have just returned from a 5-day holiday in Bordeaux - the guides are excellent and a great addition to the pleasures of the visit."

Riesling on the Rise

But being British, our palate is sharpest when it comes to the semiotics of wine: whenever an Englishman opens his mouth to glug back a glass, he's saying something about himself. A drinker of French wine is signalling “I'm sophisticated, have a lover stashed away, and I'm so insouciant that I shrug off the loss of €5 billion as mere bagatelle”; a drinker of zippy Australian wines is saying “I like wine but I'm no girly-man, indeed, I'm going to change a tyre straight after lunch”; and dinner-party drinkers of Argentinian numbers are, between the chat about house prices, letting you know: