Sir, - Kevin Myers' recent article on French wines pained him to write he says. It pained me even more having read it. For one who has been to French wine regions and presumably enjoyed their hospitality he does them a great disservice. Each week your paper published many Wines of the Week that are French and cost under £6. Some are clearly marked by their grape variety. Has Mr Myers considered the price of the wine after our punitive tax, duties and the carriers modest profit are taken into account?
If the wine is faulty or plonk he is entitled to a refund or exchange and most businesses operate this policy. If he finds labels inscrutable, incomprehensible and identical, then perhaps he might ask advice from the well-trained professionals and helpful staff in his local off licence or supermarket, instead of the quaint custom of having to consult with his own wine merchant. The Wine Development Board offers excellent courses, where I'm sure some of the mystique of viticulture could be explained to him. On the question of Sommeliers I must point out that their normal working uniforms do not include a funny hat or gown and the question of titles only arise at special ceremonies. The Irish Guild of Sommeliers would gladly provide him with any further information regarding the profession.
Having been a competitor in last year's S.O.P.E.X.A, I didn't meet or see Mr Myers at any of the written practical, or oral stages of the competition and from his poor knowledge of wines I doubt his ability or qualifications to judge the standards of any Sommelier. Let Mary Dowey write the wine column Kevin! - Yours, etc.,
Oakley Road, Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.