French against rose wine made by mixing red, white

PARIS (AFP) — An overwhelming majority of French consumers are opposed to an EU scheme to allow a blend of red and white wines to be sold as rose, according to a poll to be published on Sunday.

The poll found 87 percent of those polled were against the plan, and the rejection was across the board, with no difference between men and women or people living in the countryside or the Paris region.

But the older age group was the most vehemently against the proposal, with 95 percent of people polled aged over 65 saying they were opposed, against only 71 percent in the 18-24 age range.

In France rose is traditionally produced by leaving crushed red grapes to soak with macerating white grapes. But New World winemakers in Australia, South Africa and elsewhere have produced cheaper roses by blending white and red roses.

The poll, to be published in the Sud Ouest and Midi Libre newspapers, found that even though the blended wine would be cheaper, only 12 percent of French drinkers would be prepared to try it.

The European Commission, which is due to finalise reforms of the EU wine labelling system in June, has offered to compromise by giving French rose wines a special designation to distinguish them from blended wines.

French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier has already indicated that this does not go far enough.