Vino Business

'This sharp critique of French winemakers, and Bordeaux's Saint Emilion region in particular, caused quite a stir when it was published in France in 2014' (Publishers Weekly). ? Already provoking debate and garnering significant attention across France and within the wine world,?Vino Business?is a 'truly eye-opening expos' of the dark side of French wine by acclaimed investigative journalist Isabelle Saporta (Booklist). ? In recent decades, Bordeaux has come under the influence of large-scale international investors. Unafraid to name names, Saporta sheds a harsh light on how this influence has corrupted the region's centuries-old traditions of winemaking excellence. She uncovers how the classification system was manipulated in 2012 to ensure that the wines of Saint-?milion-Bordeaux's most prestigious appellation-were certified premier grand cru class A. Giving extra points to a chateaux for the size of its parking lot, the quality of the wine itself counts for only thirty percent of that coveted rank. ? In other chapters, Saporta investigates issues of wine labeling and pesticides, and draws comparisons to Champagne, Burgundy, and the rest of the wine world. 'This fast-paced, provocative read' is a cri de coeur for the lost values of traditional winemaking (Dave DeSimone,?Pittsburgh Tribune Review).