French Winemakers Complain Of Difficulty Producing, Selling Vino

Paris, France (AHN) - French winemakers are complaining about the increasingly difficult business environment they face caused by the rise of anti-alcoholism sentiment in the country. They fear the French wine will one day go the way of the cigarette, which has been banned in public places.

At the heart of their anxiety is a government proposal last week to raise the legal age for purchasing alcohol to 18 from 16. Aside from hiking the legal age, the proposal will also prohibit the sale of alcohol at highway gas stations and will not allow all-you-can-drink open bar evenings at French high schools.

Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot explained the ministry had to step in following a 50 percent rise in hospital confinement of French youths under 15 years old for drunkenness the past four years.

These French wines are hauntingly good

"Parents carry their wine glasses from porch to porch," Parker said. "What you see are plastic pumpkins and crystal."

So what does he recommend as "porch-to-porch" wines? He suggested what he described as two "offbeat, good values" from France.

For a white, Parker chose the 2007 Novellum Chardonnay, selling for $12.99. Critics have awarded high marks to this wine, which comes from respected importer Eric Solomon of European Cellars.

Parker said that while the wine was aged in oak, it's brighter and fresher than many of its California counterparts. I agree.