Beef

French Don’t Want to See Their Precious Rosé Diluted

Photo: istockphoto

The French are in a huff about a European Union proposal (expected to be ratified in June) that would lift a ban on “blended rosés.” Traditionally, rosé has been made by briefly macerating red grapes, but the E.U. believes that allowing producers to make it cheaply, by simply blending red and white wines, will help countries like Spain and Italy get rid of overstock (it’ll also even the playing field; non-European blended rosés are already permitted). Even though the E.U. proposes to distinguish blended rosés from “traditional rosés” via labeling, an organization of 750 French vineyards is nevertheless rigidly opposed, and the French government is barring the practice within its borders. A rep for the CIVP/Provence Wine Counsel says, in a press release: “This proposal will destroy the true wine’s hard-earned image and undermine a time-honored tradition of production excellence.” Not to mention, it’ll take money out of French coffers — rosé is, after all, becoming increasingly popular. The question is, how does this affect the calimocho — the Spanish combination of wine and Coke?

French Don’t Want to See Their Precious Rosé Diluted