Crap French Wine Flying Off Shelves

By Alex in Advertising, Food & Drink on Nov 14, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Frustrated French vitners are fed up with slow sales, so they decided to try an unusual marketing gimmick: naming their wine "Le Vin de Merde" or "Crap Wine."

Restauranteur Jean-Marc Speziale and winemaker Walter Valgalier concocted their devilish little PR tactic in the caves of Gignac, near Montpellier. Speziale told Just-Drinks.com that the canny name acts as a backhanded compliment to Languedoc’s underappreciated wine.

"This draws attention to the fact that we make very good wines," Speziale said. In actuality, Vin de Merde hardly lives up to its name–thankfully. Bottles sell for 7 euros (somewhat pricey by French standards) and are flying off shelves of local carriers. It seems, for now, that this publicity stunt initiated out of angst and frustration is wholeheartedly succeeding.

It’s brilliant: if the customers don’t like the wine, then it’s their own fault for buying Crap! LinkThanks Marilyn!


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  1. Theory
    Nov 14th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Merde actually means something a little stronger than ‘crap’. I’m surprised the French government allows products with offensive names (not that I’m offended myself, but you know) on shelves.

  2. DOJ
    Nov 14th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    They buy it as a conversation piece, perhaps?

  3. lovemeordie236
    Nov 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    That would totally be in my wine holder at all times, for when my boss came over for diner!

  4. stormie24
    Nov 15th, 2008 at 12:40 am

    haha, this is brilliant. I also think it’s funny that anything in french just sounds so cool despite what it really means…

  5. Miss Cellania
    Nov 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    I’d buy it just for the name. Like Kentucky Horse Piss Beer or Fat Bastard wine.

  6. allswellinhell
    Nov 15th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    We just got back from near Montpellier and saw this stuff in the Intermarche supermarket — it got its own endcap! But if you really want to drink crap wine, this isn’t it. The crap wine comes in translucent gallon handled jugs with red/white/rose stamped on the labels. For five Euros a pop, it’s a better deal than Carlo Rossi.

  7. aikaik
    Nov 15th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    seven euros is not somewhat pricey by french standards. in fact, it is on the cheap side.

  8. Evilbeagle
    Nov 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    I’m looking for this next time I am down in France!

    It can’t be all that merde. The last thing I am is a wine snob, but I have yet to find a French wine I don’t like. I’ve had stuff from Aldi for 3 euros that tastes better than a lot of the more expensive stuff from other places.


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