Wine and France

Hello Wine Lovers.

Today I thought I would write about (in as few words as possible because you could easily write a book on the subject) what wine means to the French. I know, I know, who really cares? Well, if you like history at all you may want to read on.

I am not going back to the discovery of France, just back to WW II. Recently the French government commissioned a study of what makes the French "French," or, as one scholar put ti, "to access what makes up French historical memory and identity." It was a vast work, in seven volumes. Part of it was a survey in which people were asked to define the qualities that made them French. Places one thru three were what you would expect: being born in France, defending liberty and speaking French. But right behind number three, wine, specifically knowing and appreciating "good" wine. The authors stated this was no surprise, "Wine is part of our history; it's what defines us."

In 1932 Hubert de Mirepoix, president of the French Winegrowers Association, gave a speech in which he described how wine "contributed to the French race by giving them wit, gaiety and good taste, qualities which set it profoundly apart from people who drink beer."

Well then! Hitler knew the way to defeat France was to take it's pride and "culture" away from them. Not their factories, their trains, their churches, their waterways, but their most prised possession, food and wine! If he took that away from them they would be so morally defeated they would surrender easily and without much of a fight. Well, they did surrender, but not without a fight, and Hitler and his armies took their food and wine away! Countless barbaric invasions of Burgundy, The Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne and many more. Stole millions and millions of the world's greatest wines and stored them in caves. he gave them to his armies when they won and he gave it to them when they did not, the German soldier always had wine.

Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte were believers too. Napoleon even hauled wagon loads of champagne on his campaigns, most of the time anyway. It is said the reason for his defeat at Waterloo was that he did not have time to pick up any champagne and had to fight on Belgian beer alone.

Well we all know our history books, the world defeated Hitler and the French survived. The wine regions that were so badly destroyed are once again producing some of the best wines in the world. So the next time you meet a French person and you feel a tinge of arrogance... it is in their blood!

Ok Ok... the wine already!

2007 Mas Donis Barrica from Spain! It is a blend of 85% Garnacha (from vineyards over 80 years of age) and 15% Syrah. Aged for eight months in French and American oak, it was bottled without fining and filtration. It offers a bouquet of smoke, earth notes, clove, cinnamon, and black cherry. This leads to a wine with remarkable depth and concentration for its humble price, savory flavors, and a fruit-filled finish. This wine will set you back a whopping $9.99! Unbelievable!

Cheers!

J