South West France BUSINESS

Question 1

Where is Bergerac sold?

Answer 1

90 domestic / 10 export

Domestic: supermarkets (50%), direct sales (30%)

Export: China (40%), Belgium, UK

Question 2

Why is Cahors area under vines only 1/10th of what it has been?

Answer 2

1. Taxes and restrictions on the export from BDX
2. Phylloxera
3. 1956 frost

Only 4,000/18,000 ha planted

Question 3

Describe the structure of Cahors

Answer 3

80% by domaines (private companies?), 20% byCooperative des Vignerons d’Olt

Question 4

How has Cahors promoted itself? (2)

Answer 4

1. Varietal focus</strong> - “Cahors: the Capital of Malbec”</p>
2. Voluntary quality categories</strong></p>

Tradition - lower % Malbec, alluvial plains

Prestige - mid-slope\

Speciale - 100% Malbec, highest plateaus

Question 5

Where is Cahors sold?

Answer 5

70 domestic / 30 export

Domestic - supermarkets and direct

Exports: UK, Canada, US;

Question 6

What is the structure of Madiran? Where is it sold?

Answer 6

50/50 domaine/co-op

80 domestic - 50% supermarkets, 25% hospo, 25% specialist

20 export - UK, Belgium, Germany

Question 7

Where is Jurancon sold? Any notable producers? Why are some producers focusing on dry wines?

Answer 7

Mostly domestically - equal split between direct, supermarkets, hospo

Cave de Gan = 50% of production

Dry wine is easier to sell than sweet and too much competition from other French sweet

Question 8

What isCôtes de Gascogne? What kind of wine in produced? Challenges?

Answer 8

Largest of SW IGPs making wines from Colombard, SB, and Chardonnay for export

3x rise in production 1990 - 2000 - 80% export

Neutral wine med-med(+) acid, fruity, easy to drink and varietal label of acceptable-good, inexpensive-mid-priced

More competition from New World