Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One million Frenchmen produce nearly one quarter
(US$ 22 billion) of the world's total production, yet they
only export 20 per cent of that. They consume more wine,
per capita, than any other people on earth except the
Italians. Alcohol kills more French people than automobile
accidents. It is the number three killer after heart disease
and cancer.
How Wine Came to France
The Phoenicians i rst brought wine-making to France, trading along
the Mediterranean coast. They colonised Marseilles (Marseille in
French) by 620
BC
, then moved inland along the shore of the Rhone
River. Loving wine and planning to stay, they brought a variety of
grape vines with them and planted them along their way. Some of
them, like the Syrah and the Muscat, originated in Persia. All these
grapes were the vinifera varieties, specii cally for making wine. The
Romans continued this civilising tradition, 500 years later, as they
extended the Roman Empire as far as England.
All the great wines of France are made from vinifera grapes:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Muscat,
Pinot Noir, Johannisberg Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Often these are
blended together, usually in specii c percentages. Until recently, the
wines that resulted were known only by the name of the region in
which the grapes were grown and the wine produced. Now, following
the 'new world' custom, the French are naming some wines by their
grape name. Alas, matching 'new world' tastes as well.
Although alcoholism is clearly a serious problem, a display
of overindulgence is not acceptable. You will very rarely see
a French person acting 'drunk', either at home, at a party
or on the street. It puts him in the category of a 'bum'. A
proper Frenchman may be a little l ushed after a good midday
meal, but he will not be staggering, or slurring his words,
or physically ill.
How does this happen? The French have no secret of
tolerance for alcohol. They consume a great deal of wine, but
nearly always along with a meal. They take a glass or two
each at lunch and dinner and skip cocktail hour.
Wine is not typically a cocktail in France and the cocktail
party, in spite of its name, is not a Gallic institution.
Before dinner at a French home or when you sit down
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