Today the French wine industry is demonstrating against the multiple restrictions that it is now facing and asserting its ‘right to exist’. Of particular concern is the very uncertain position of wine on the internet. The Loi Evin, which was passed in 1991, placed severe restrictions on advertising alcohol and listed the media in which ads could appear. At that time the internet didn’t exist, so it wasn’t listed as a medium in which ads could appear. French court have been interpreting this meaning that ads or mentions on wine on the internet is illegal. This means that there is a big question mark over the legality of producers and other wine sites on the net. This, of course, raises the whole issue of freedom of information.

Producers will be covering up the names of wine-making villages to make their point.

Here is today’s editorial from e-lettre Vitisphere:
30 octobre 2008 : la France du vin dit Non à la censure !
Information, droit à la vente, fiscalité … face à la multiplication des interdits, partout en France, la filière vitivinicole descend dans la rue ce jeudi 30 octobre, "pour défendre, avec fierté et responsabilité, son droit à exister." La mobilisation touche toutes les régions vinicoles de France où les interprofessions et les opérateurs du vin ont relayé l'appel de Vin et Société (Pour lire l'appel Multiplication des interdits : non à la censure ! cliquez ici). Elle s'articule autour d'une opération nationale pour ne pas « tomber dans le panneau » des censeurs, en recouvrant symboliquement les panneaux de villes viticoles.

Au moment ou la loi Evin devrait être revue, pour, on l’espère, reconnaître au vin l’accès légal à Internet, d’autres interdits, loin d’être levés, menacent la filière vitivinicole française : restriction des lieux de vente, sur les dégustations dans les salons ou dans les foires au vin, sur la fiscalité...
"La filière refuse d’être diabolisée!", prévient Marie-Christine Tarby, présidente de Vin et Société. "Demain, c’est la survie de la viticulture française qui est en jeu. Et si au-delà du vin, c’était la liberté d’information qui soit menacée, menacé aussi le droit de promouvoir un art de vivre à la française!"


I have to declare an interest as I translate French producers' websites, especially those in the Loire, into English.

(8 October 2008)

Last night we stayed at the Hotel Panoramic in Sancerre, which is now owned by Guy Saget. The hotel has been renovated and is better than it was under the previous ownership. It does have sensational views over the vineyards, especially towards Amigny, Chavignol and Verdigny.

However, it does also charge an equally sensational and eye-watering price for WiFi internet access. One hour of access is €5 (the equivalent of €120 for 24 hours) and 2 hours of access is €8 (the equivalent of €96 for 24 hours). There is no rate for 24 hours. You can log on and log off but this is a pain in the neck, especially in these days where continuous internet access is increasingly the norm. Internet access is free at some other accommodation nearby, such as Les Logis du Grillon in Sancerre, La Côte des Monst Damnés in Chavignol and at La Chancelière in St Satur.

To be fair in addition to the two hours I bought I was given an additional hour’s free access but it is crazy that had I been logged on for 24 hours at the two hour rate my WiFi bill would have been €96 – €1 more than our room.

Price comparison:
€96 for the equivalent of 24 hours web access (Hotel Panoramic)
€95 for our room in the Hotel Panoramic
€89.73 for three months unlimited access through Orange up to 8 megabytes
€97.20 for nine bottles of Domaine de la Perrière 2007 – owned by Guy Saget and on sale at the Panoramic.