What's Going On in the World of French Wines

Eric Asimov has a very interesting article in last week’s New York Times about Bordeaux. I think his columns are excellent and thought-provoking. This one, entitled “Bordeaux Loses Prestige Among Younger Wine Lovers,” is no exception.

In the article Asimov asserts that “While the drop stems from far more competition in the lower-priced market, it also reflects a shift in the demographic of Bordeaux aficionados. For young Americans in particular, Bordeaux has become downright unfashionable.”

Wow – now that’s a statement that makes me stop and think, especially about the “unfashionable” part. What exactly makes a wine unfashionable and who dictates what wines are “in” or “out”? And more importantly, what happens when we start avoiding certain styles of wines just because they aren’t “cool”?

I have noticed this kind of thing before. I’m a big fan of a certain romance author (every once and while I enjoy a good trashy novel) and I’ve noticed that almost all of her characters drink wine. What’s interesting to me is that each book tends to feature a certain wine and it is usually the “trendy” wine of the moment. While I am amused by this, it has made me think – is that a reflection of real life? Do people only drink one type of wine? Are young wine lovers falling into the trap of drinking only certain wines?

One of the things that is so exciting and wonderful about wine is its diversity. There are so many different styles and types of wines that exist in this world. I like to say that there is a French wine for every budget, occasion and palate, but the truth of the matter is that it is even a bigger picture than that. You could spend years and never drink the same wine twice. And that should be a good thing – even a great thing!

Wine is not “one size fits all” and it doesn’t make much sense to only drink the same wine all the time. Would you eat the same thing for dinner every night? No. So why would you buy into the idea that only certain types of wines are fashionable and worth drinking? If you do, you’ll be depriving yourself of some amazing taste experiences. I can understand it if you tell me that some wines are an issue due to budgetary concerns or availability. But really, the idea that people wouldn’t drink Bordeaux wines because they aren’t “cool” is a little bit silly. It isn’t the image that you are drinking, but the wine itself. And if it tastes good to you then that’s really the most important thing.

There are lots of delicious Bordeaux wines out there that are priced well and are great for serving with some of our favorite foods, like burgers, steak or a grilled veggie dish – just take a look through my Top 50 list (http://www.wines-france.us/picks/national) and you can find several. But the key is, don’t buy into the trendy thing. Wine is so much more than that and you will be missing out on some delicious, drinkable and wonderful wines if you do so.