Bubble, bubble ...

2003-06-24 21:12

Bordeaux - Around 100 angry exhibitors attending the world's biggest wine trade fair in this southwest French city on Tuesday signed a petition demanding enhanced air conditioning to stop the heat from "cooking" the wine.

Exhibitors from 44 wine-producing nations are attending the Vinexpo fair running through Thursday as all of France bakes in unseasonal heat.

"Sunday was a catastrophe, with the temperature as high as 35°," said Gilbert Clark at the Australian pavillion.

"No-one even came, it was like a sauna, the visitors fled," said Dalene Steyn, who markets South African wines in Europe.

"You can't possibly taste the wines, they were being served hot", complained another Australian producer. "The only stands that appeared to attract customers were those that had a supply of chilled mineral water".

"We had to throw bottles away because the heat cooked the wine," an Australian professional said.

At a stand representing France's Normandy region, the heat sent corks popping out of bottles of Calvados. "A few people tasted our products but it was impossible to appreciate their quality," Beatrice Drouin said.

The petition was signed by exhibitors in Hall 3, where New World producers from Australia and South Africa have their stands. The signatories claim temperatures in the other two exhibition halls remained normal.

- AFX