I’LL RAISE YOU SOME OAK CHIPS IN EXCHANGE FOR A SHERRY

As I reported last Friday, the U.S. and E.U. finally signed a wine accord they have been haggling over for the past twenty years. Some experts believe the agreement will set a positive example for future cultural trade issues. After all, a once nasty dispute has ended in compromise and acceptance among men and women who are steadfast in their ways, (and it only took twenty years.) The E.U. agreed to recognize the traditionally forbidden New World practice of adding oak chips to the vats for flavor - it saves time and money, and isn’t that the American way – as long as the U.S. agrees not to use certain European names such as Port, Sherry and Champagne. Obviously there were misgivings on both sides. Four European countries led by Germany voted against the accord complaining that it gave the U.S. too much leeway since they are allowed to use practices that are illegal in many countries across the pond. The settlement was eventually made in order to avoid further bickering in which the E.U. threatened not to accept certain U.S. practices, such as throwing in oak chips, while the U.S. promised to impose huge amounts of paperwork on European imports. Can’t we all just get along? Well apparently we can since the U.S. is Europe’s largest wine market and they eventually gave in.