In Vino Vilitas

Once the rarefied realm of connoisseurs, the wine industry now must bend to the forces of the market and not the tastes of the palate. Europe, the birthplace of wine, can no longer rely on its continental sophistication and experience to control the wine market. Experts estimate that 2005 will be the first year in which wine imports into Europe will outnumber wine exports. Fearing the loss of further ground to the sweeter and more accessible wines of California, South Africa, and Chile, elements in the European wine industry are pushing for the lowering of the stringent standards that govern European vintners. Others contend that the strength of European wines lies in their originality and the high-quality process of their manufacture. The vineyard has fast become the next frontier in Europe’s encounter with globalization. And the debate looks likely to intensify: wines from China are set to soon enter the global market. – YaleGlobal.