French Counterfeiting New Zealand Wine

In China they are counterfeiting beer but in France, something more ironic is happening. A French winemaker was caught trying to pass off his fine French product as a trendy New Zealand wine. That's funny.

But in a humiliating blow to Gallic pride, winemakers have been accused of trying to pass off their bottles as New Zealand produce to cash in on the popularity of brands from down under.

A tribunal in Australia has ruled Loire Valley-based firm Lacheteau labelled its sauvignon blanc Kiwi Cuvee in a nod to the quirkily-named New Zealand and Australian white wines.

Now note - the label does somewhere say that it is a French wine... but the marketing is clearly a knockoff of New Zealand wines which are outselling French ones even in France. For as fiercely as the French defend the "terroir" of the wine, claiming that the region and area each wine is produced is special and protected, they are also noting that their wines are simply being out-marketed in the world.

Jeffrey Davies, a Bordeaux wine expert, said that there was a "nasty irony" about a French producer muscling in on New Zealand's success and it was a sign Kiwis had "beaten the French at their own game".

"I don't know whether this reflects a superior quality among New Zealand sauvignon blanc or their ability to better market their wines."

I am a bug fan of many French wines but their industry continually cracks me up.

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