Red Bicyclette is a
French wine
French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and Amer ...
produced by the Sieur d'Arques cooperative and distributed in the United States by the
E. & J. Gallo Winery. Its distinctive label appeals to consumers who prefer branded wines, labelled with the variety of grape from which they are made, rather than by the exact location. The following grape varieties are sold under the Red Bicyclette label:
chardonnay,
merlot,
pinot noir,
rosé and
syrah.
Passing-off controversy
Sieur d'Arques were prosecuted in 2010 for passing off wines blended from other grape varieties as pinot noir in order to charge higher prices to E. & J. Gallo, for whom this was their most popular variety. The amount of imitation pinot noir sold in this way exceeded the production of the
Languedoc
The Province of Languedoc (; , ; oc, Lengadòc ) is a former province of France.
Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately ...
region and this scandal was said to have damaged the region's reputation. The defendants were convicted. Jail sentences were given but suspended and fines of up to €180,000 were levied.
See also
*
Fat Bastard (wine)
*
Plan Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine ( oc, vin de Bordèu, french: vin de Bordeaux) is produced in the Bordeaux region of southwest France, around the city of Bordeaux, on the Garonne River. To the north of the city the Dordogne River joins the Garonne forming the ...
References
Bibliography
*{{cite web , url=https://www.winemag.com/2006/03/01/labels-gone-wild/ , title=Labels Gone Wild , first=Paul , last=Franson , date=March 1, 2006 , work=Wine Magazine , access-date=August 31, 2018 , pages=28–33
External links
Red Bicyclette
French brands
French wine
Wine brands