Business Week article

[Thomas]

I see it another way. The French have more competition. Sometimes the competition has an advantage such as less regulatory restrictions. Other times the competition has a product advantage such as the dynamic spurt of quality coming from Italy. And sometimes the leader simply loses the leading position.

Joeyz, on the matter of varietal labeling. The French have relied for centuries (except in Alsace) on "place" names rather than grape names. They have done this because their system defines the grape varieties that are grown in regions. I like that system because it forces the consumer to shop around for the producer he/she likes.

What information about the wine do you get from a shelf of a hundred California Merlots in a retail shop? But a shelf of Bordeaux wines tells you generally what to expect.