The australian flavour in europe

[mrdutton]

I guess it all depends on where your are when you buy the wine.

The last time I was in France or in Italy (which was not recently by a long shot....), I got some darn decent wines for some darn decent prices (all at less than $10.00 per bottle).

Supply, demand and mark-up all have to play key roles here, I would think. A small producer of some very fine wine might not be able to get his wine out to the international market, simply because by the time it got to the shelves in outer-elsewhere, it would simply be too expensive. But, when he sells to the local taverna so they can have their table wine, the price is quite fair for the product delivered.

My example might be the overly simple one, but I am sure that it applies to the big picture somewhat.

And, again, I would never go to France expecting to get wines that taste the same as the wines I get from California or from Virginia, no matter the price.